Montpellier, the most gay-friendly city in France

Mar. 21 2013

by Julien Chadeyron

Montpellier is now the most gay-friendly city in France, according to the results of a survey conducted this summer by Têtu magazine among 6,000 of its readers and published this morning in its December issue. Montpellier takes the place of Lyon, which held the title during the last survey conducted by Têtu in March 2009.

To establish this ranking of the most gay-friendly cities in France, among the 23 main cities, TÊTU used many criteria, including the more or less friendly attitude of the inhabitants or the municipality, the presence of gay businesses, the dynamism of local LGBT associations or the number of homophobic attacks, physical or verbal. Montpellier comes in first, ahead of Nantes, Lyon and Rennes. Paris is only 8th in this ranking.

With this title, Montpellier confirms its status as an open city. It owes it to the hard work of its mayor, Hélène Mandroux, who is at the forefront of the defense of LGBT rights. For the readers of TÊTU, the city is in the lead on many criteria, such as the quality of the associative fabric, the friendly behavior of residents, shopkeepers, police officers or local officials. It is also (with Clermont-Ferrand) the least prone to homophobic behavior. And 80% of the gays who live there recommend it. All these reasons make it the most gay-friendly city in France.

Nantes came in second place, benefiting from its urban dynamism and cultural wealth.

Rennes and Lyon tied for third place. Rennes benefits from a young and tolerant population and a growing LGBT community. Lyon, first in the previous survey, managed to stay in the top three, thanks in particular to its many gay establishments and the density and diversity of its network of associations.

Nice is in the top 5, no doubt partly as a result of the work carried out for several years now by the municipality and the tourist office to improve the image of a city classified as right-wing and whose image is not always the same.this is probably partly the result of the work carried out for several years now by the municipality and the tourist office to improve the image of a city classified as right-wing and whose image could appear both old and "cold or homophobic", to use the terms used in the TÊTU survey.

Then come the cities of Toulouse and Lille, whose friendly character is no longer to be proven. The only drawback for the pink city is its lack of LGBT places, while the capital of Flanders is penalized by a work atmosphere sometimes considered hostile.

If Paris appears to be the most gay-friendly city in France, ahead of Montpellier and Lyon, it is only in 8th place when judged by its own inhabitants! This is due to the homophobic acts of which 34% of respondents say they have been victims.

The people of Avignon love their city and say that it is a good place to live, coming in 9th place. Angers closes this top 10 thanks to a discreet but real and rather well accepted gay life.

For the rest of the ranking, Bordeaux seems to enjoy a real dynamism in terms of gay places. In Nancy, the problem is the quality of the existing gay venues which do not satisfy the local community, and the frequent homophobic behavior. Clermont-Ferrand stands out as the city least prone to homophobic acts, even if the gay community and venues sometimes leave something to be desired. Metz and Strasbourg, especially, are disappointing. The behavior of neighbors and colleagues is particularly at fault.

Rouen is no longer popular: 35% of its inhabitants do not recommend their city. The same fate befell Caen and Grenoble, two cities where homophobic acts are the least numerous.

Finally, to finish this ranking, we find the bad pupils, Orleans, Marseille, Saint-Etienne or Toulon.

All the details of this ranking, and the analyses of the editorial staff of TÊTU are to be found in the December edition, on newsstands since this morning!