ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2025: What it means for France and Monaco

 

As of May 2025, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map provides a comprehensive assessment of LGBTQ+ rights across 49 European countries, evaluating them based on 75 criteria spanning seven categories: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition, intersex bodily integrity, civil society space, and asylum. Here's an overview of France and Monaco's standings:

🇫🇷 France: Progress Amidst Challenges

Overall Score: 62% (13th place in 2024, down from 10th in 2023)
Key Areas:

• Equality & Non-Discrimination: France has national equality action plans effectively implemented, addressing sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Family Rights: Same-sex marriage and adoption are legal.

• Hate Crime & Hate Speech: Protections exist, but enforcement and societal attitudes vary.

• Legal Gender Recognition: Procedures require judicial approval and evidence, which can be burdensome.

• Intersex Bodily Integrity: No legislation prohibits non-consensual medical interventions on intersex minors.

• Civil Society Space: Active, with governmental support, but concerns over rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments.

• Asylum: LGBTQ+ individuals can seek asylum, but specific protections are limited.

Recent Developments:

• In March 2024, the French Congress amended Article 34 of the Constitution to guarantee the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy, extending this right to all individuals, including trans men.

• The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled against the French railway company's requirement for passengers to select "Mr" or "Ms" when buying tickets, deeming it unnecessary and potentially discriminatory.

• Activists have called for nationwide protests following controversial reports on minors' rights to gender care, highlighting ongoing societal debates.

Recommendations:

• Develop a transparent legal framework for gender recognition based on self-determination, free from abusive requirements.

• Prohibit non-essential medical interventions on intersex minors without informed consent.

• Ensure that access to public subsidies for civil society organizations is not contingent upon refraining from criticizing government actions.

  

  🇲🇨 Monaco: Minimal Legal Protections

  Overall Score: 0% (Among the lowest in Europe)
  Key Areas:

• Equality & Non-Discrimination: No comprehensive anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Family Rights: Same-sex unions are recognized through cohabitation agreements since June 2020, offering limited rights.

• Hate Crime & Hate Speech: Hate speech and incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation are banned.

• Legal Gender Recognition: No legal or administrative process exists for individuals to change their legal gender.

• Intersex Bodily Integrity: No specific protections or legislation.

• Civil Society Space: Limited engagement with LGBTQ+ activists; however, events like Monaco Pride have been celebrated.

• Asylum: No specific provisions for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
  

Recent Developments:

• In May 2024, footballer Mohamed Camara received a four-match suspension after covering an LGBTQ+ support badge on his jersey, highlighting tensions around LGBTQ+ visibility in sports.

• Monaco Pride celebrated its third edition in June 2024, with over 150 attendees, including members of the royal family, indicating growing social acceptance.

• As of May 16, 2025 the Monaco LGBTIA+ Association (Mon’ Arc En Ciel) will be celebrating one year of Advocacy.

• Monaco Pride takes place this year on July 10th.
  

Recommendations:

• Engage proactively with LGBTQ+ activists to develop and implement legal protections.

• Establish procedures for legal gender recognition.

• Enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

Understanding the Rainbow Map

The Rainbow Map serves as a benchmarking tool, illustrating the legal and policy landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals across Europe. A higher score indicates robust protections and equality measures, while a lower score highlights areas needing significant improvement.

France's moderate score reflects both progress and ongoing challenges, whereas Monaco's minimal score underscores the need for substantial legal reforms to ensure LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

For more detailed information, you can explore the interactive Rainbow Map.

"BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO" by Alicia Sedgwick

 

In her illuminating latest book BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO, Alicia Sedgwick invites readers on a transformative journey inward—away from the relentless culture of productivity and performance, and toward a deeper, more meaningful presence with ourselves and the world around us.

Known for her work in public speaking and communication coaching, Sedgwick shifts her focus from external expression to internal grounding, offering a guidebook for anyone seeking peace, authenticity, and self-awareness in a fast-paced world.

 

At the core of BEING lies a profound, yet simple premise: that we are not defined by what we do, but by who we are. Sedgwick explores the often-overlooked power of stillness, presence, and acceptance. Rather than prescribing yet another checklist for personal development or success, she encourages readers to let go of the constant urge to achieve, fix, or improve—and instead, to be with themselves fully, as they are.

This is not a call to inaction, but a redefinition of action itself. Sedgwick emphasizes that authentic doing must arise from a centered, grounded being. She uses personal stories, practical insights, and gentle exercises to lead readers into a place of mindfulness and inner alignment, where decisions and actions flow naturally, rather than being forced.

While the book is spiritual in tone, it is grounded in accessible language and practical guidance. Each chapter unfolds like a conversation with a wise mentor—calm, compassionate, and clear. Topics such as self-worth, emotional resilience, trust, and surrender are explored not as lofty ideals, but as lived experiences. Sedgwick does not shy away from the realities of pain, uncertainty, and vulnerability. Instead, she shows how these experiences can become pathways to deeper presence and self-acceptance.

 

One of the most compelling aspects of BEING is its focus on intuition and inner truth. Sedgwick encourages readers to listen to the quiet voice within, to reclaim a relationship with their inner guidance system that is so often drowned out by external expectations. In doing so, she provides a gentle but powerful antidote to the overwhelm of modern life.

Whether you’re a professional feeling burned out by the constant pressure to perform, a seeker on a spiritual path, or simply someone looking for more peace and clarity in your daily life, BEING offers nourishment for the soul. It’s a book to read slowly, to return to, and to let sink in.

Alicia Sedgwick’s voice is both soothing and empowering—inviting readers not to strive for transformation, but to relax into it. In a world obsessed with doing, BEING is a breath of fresh air: a reminder that we are already whole, already enough, and that sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is simply be.

 

As a friend and someone deeply admired not only in Monaco but throughout the region, I see Alicia and her partner, Annette Anderson, as cherished figures within the LGBTQ+ community. They embody strength and offer invaluable mentorship—something profoundly needed in today’s world.

BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO is more than a book—it’s a companion for those ready to step off the treadmill of busyness and into the sanctuary of presence. Alicia Sedgwick doesn’t teach you how to become someone else; she gently shows you how to come home to yourself.

Get your copy of BEING today on Amazon and other online retail platforms.

Queer Palm 2025: Official Film Selection Announced for Cannes

 

The Queer Palm, a prestigious award celebrating LGBTQ+ cinema at the Cannes Film Festival, has unveiled its official film selection for the 2025 edition. Spanning across the festival’s major categories, this year's lineup features a diverse and compelling array of queer-themed narratives and filmmakers from around the globe.

Competition / Sélection Officielle

Three films have been selected to represent the Queer Palm in Cannes’ main competition lineup:

• Alpha by Julia Ducournau
  

• The History of Sound by Oliver Hermanus
  

• La Petite Dernière by Hafsia Herzi

Un Certain Regard / Sélection Officielle

The Un Certain Regard section, known for showcasing innovative and daring cinema, includes the following Queer Palm contenders:

• Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave-Cambet
  

• La Misteriosa Mirada del Flamenco (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo) by Diego Céspedes
  

• Pillion by Harry Lighton
  

• O Riso e a Faca (I Only Rest in the Storm) by Pedro Pinho

Hors-Compétition / Sélection Officielle

• La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde by Thierry Klifa has been selected out of competition.

Cannes Première / Sélection Officielle

• La Ola (La Vague) by Sebastián Lelio will be presented in the Cannes Première section.

Quinzaine des Cinéastes

• Enzo by Laurent Cantet, directed by Robin Campillo
  

• Que Ma Volonté Soit Faite by Julia Kowalski
  

• Sorry, Baby by Eva Simon

Semaine de la Critique

• A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
  

• Des Preuves d'Amour by Alice Douard

ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema)

• Drunken Noodles by Lucio Castro
  

• Laurent dans le Vent by Anton Balekdjian, Léo Couture, and Mattéo Eustachon

With this selection, the Queer Palm continues its mission to spotlight stories that challenge norms, celebrate diversity, and highlight the richness of queer voices in global cinema. The winner will be announced during the Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 13 to May 24, 2025.

The 2025 Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival

 

The 78th Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 13 to 24, 2025, promises a rich tapestry of global cinema, showcasing both seasoned auteurs and emerging talents. Under the presidency of French actress Juliette Binoche, the main competition jury includes notable figures such as Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong.

Official Selection – In Competition

This year's Palme d'Or race features 22 films from diverse backgrounds:

• "The Phoenician Scheme" by Wes Anderson: A stylized espionage tale set in the 1960s.

• "Eddington" by Ari Aster: A Western comedy exploring themes of identity and belonging.

• "Nouvelle Vague" by Richard Linklater: A homage to the French New Wave, blending fact and fiction.

• "Alpha" by Julia Ducournau: A psychological thriller delving into the human psyche.

• "Die, My Love" by Lynne Ramsay: An adaptation of Ariana Harwicz's novel, portraying a woman's descent into madness.

• "Sentimental Value" by Joachim Trier: A family drama featuring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård.

• "The Young Mothers' Home" by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne: A poignant look at young women navigating motherhood.

• "Two Prosecutors" by Sergei Loznitsa: A historical drama set in 1937 Soviet Union, exploring themes of justice and morality.

• "Romería" by Carla Simón: The final installment in Simón's trilogy on rural Spain.

• "Sirât" by Óliver Laxe: A tale of a family's search for their daughter in the Moroccan desert.

Other notable entries include "The Mastermind" by Kelly Reichardt, "The History of Sound" by Oliver Hermanus, and "Resurrection" by Bi Gan.

Un Certain Regard

This section spotlights innovative storytelling and emerging voices:

• "Eleanor the Great" by Scarlett Johansson: Johansson's directorial debut, exploring themes of aging and self-discovery.

• "The Chronology of Water" by Kristen Stewart: An adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, marking Stewart's directorial debut.

• "Urchin" by Harris Dickinson: A gritty portrayal of youth and survival.

• "My Father's Shadow" by Akinola Davies Jr.: Nigeria's first official selection, delving into familial bonds and heritage.

• "Once Upon a Time in Gaza" by Tarzan and Arab Nasser: A narrative set against the backdrop of conflict, highlighting resilience and hope.

Out of Competition & Special Screenings

High-profile premieres and tributes include:

• "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" directed by Christopher McQuarrie, starring Tom Cruise.

• "Highest 2 Lowest" by Spike Lee: A documentary exploring socio-economic disparities.

• "Leave One Day" by Amélie Bonnin: The festival's opening film, a French comedy.

Additionally, Robert De Niro will be honored with the Honorary Palme d'Or for his outstanding contributions to cinema.

 Midnight Screenings

• LE ROI SOLEIL by Vincent Maël CARDONA

• HONEY DON’T by Ethan COEN

• DALLOWAY by Yann GOZLAN

• EXIT 8 by KAWAMURA Genki

• FENG LIN HUO SHAN by MAK Juno (SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT)

Cannes Premiere

• AMRUM by Fatih AKIN

• MA FRÈRE by Lise AKOKA & Romane GUERET

• SPLITSVILLE by Michael Angelo COVINO

• MAGALHÃES by Lav DIAZ

• RENAI SAIBAN by Kōji FUKADA (LOVE ON TRIAL)

• LA OLA de Sebastián LELIO (THE WAVE)

• CONNEMARA by Alex LUTZ

• ÁSTIN SEM EFTIR ER by Hlynur PÁLMASON (THE LOVE THAT REMAINS)

• ORWELL: 2+2=5 by Raoul PECK

• DAS VERSCHWINDEN DES JOSEF MENGELE by Kirill SEREBRENNIKOV (THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOSEF MENGELE)

Special Screenings

• ARCO by Ugo BIENVENU | 1st film

• BONO: STORIES OF SURRENDER by Andrew Dominik

• DITES-LUI QUE JE L’AIME by Romane BOHRINGER (TELL HER I LOVE HER)

• MARCEL ET MONSIEUR PAGNOL by Sylvain CHOMET (A MAGNIFICENT LIFE)

• QUI BRILLE AU COMBAT by Joséphine JAPY | 1st film (THE WONDERERS)

• THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN by Eugene JARECKI

• L’HOMME QUI A VU L’OURS QUI A VU L’HOMME by Pierre RICHARD

• MAMA by Or SINAI | 1st film

• AMÉLIE ET LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES by Maïlys VALLADE & Liane-Cho HAN | 1st film (LITTLE AMÉLIE)

Cannes Classics

Celebrating cinematic history, restored classics will be showcased:

• "The Gold Rush" (1925) by Charlie Chaplin: A 4K restoration marking its centennial.

• "Barry Lyndon" (1975) by Stanley Kubrick: A restored version of the period drama.

• "Amores Perros" (2000) by Alejandro González Iñárritu: A revisit to the acclaimed Mexican drama.

And many other films in between, with a blend of global narratives, debut features, and cinematic tributes, the 2025 Cannes Film Festival reaffirms its position as a premier platform for celebrating the art of filmmaking.