“The situation was untenable”: the president of the Scouts and Guides of France Marine Rosset, “angry” in the face of criticism targeting her and that she binds to her homosexuality, resigned from her functions less than two months after her election, however to a large majority.
“I chose to get behind the presidency of Scouts and Guides de France. The situation had become untenable and my will is to protect the movement, ”she announced this Wednesday to the newspaper The cross. “It is also to protect my family that I have resigned,” she adds.
Elected socialist district in Paris
Elected in mid-June by a very large majority at the head of the youth movement resulting from Catholicism, Marine Rosset, 39, had drawn the wrath of several extreme right sites and some doubtful reactions within the church.
“After my election, there were people, outside scouting, political forces, communications, even financial, who have instrumentalized positions that I have been able to have. There has resulted in a false image of Scouts and Guides of France (SGDF), because we have associated a certain number of my positions with those of the movement, ”she deplores.
Socialist municipal councilor in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, this homosexual mother of a child, who had taken pro -IVG positions, explains to the daily that “the unforeseen announcement” of a partial legislative election in her constituency – where she was a candidate in 2022 and 2024, but for which she will not represent herself – “changed the situation”.
“The least of my speaking would have been monitored. Now it was really important to me that the movement was not reduced to my only person: it is larger than me. I especially did not want to damage it, ”says Marine Rosset.
Harassment and complaint
She explains that she “was attacked every day on social networks, with messages wishing (her) disappearance”. “Do not be fooled, criticism on my political commitment was often a way to criticize me without mentioning my homosexuality,” she points out. “I am angry, especially because we have sometimes been able to question my faith, because of my homosexuality. It’s hurtful, ”she continues.
In a press release, the Scouts and Guides of France estimated that this “choice of a withdrawal makes it possible to preserve the Apartisan dimension of the Scouts and Guides of France and to prevent the movement from being taken to task”. The movement denounces “firmly the violent, discriminating or dehumanizing remarks that have been expressed in recent weeks” against its president.
“These violence, especially homophobic, are deeply contrary to our educational and associative ethics,” he insists. The movement adds support to a “complaint filed by Marine Rosset”, in early July in Paris, and specifies that he “reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings at his side”.
With more than 100,000 members and more than 900 groups, the movement is the country’s first scouting association, far ahead of the most conservative scouts in France and Scouts in Europe.