What is homophobia?

Verified 30 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Homophobia is a form of contempt, rejection and hatred towards a particular group of people, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Any homophobic act is considered a offense. If you are a victim or witness of such an act, you have the possibility to contact an association. You can also report this act to the competent authorities. As a victim of a homophobic act, you can file a complaint. Here is the information you need to know.

In case of emergency (for example, if you have just been physically assaulted), you can prevent rescue (Samu, Police Secours, etc.). If you are minor, you can also contact the 119.

Multiple types of infringements the following may be retained in the light of the homophobic act committed:

  • The discrimination if you are being treated unfavorable because of your sexual orientation or gender identity
  • The insult if you are the victim of abusive language, images or writing that devalues you because of your sexual orientation or gender identity
  • The defamation if you are the target of comments, writings, images that relate to your sexual orientation or gender identity and that undermine your honor or consideration
  • Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination when an ideological discourse incites people to have a hateful, discriminatory or violent reaction against you because of your sexual orientation or gender identity
  • The violence committed because of your sexual orientation or gender identity.

Moreover, when a homophobic act precedes, accompanies or follows a crime or a offense, this is an aggravating circumstance. Thus, the perpetrator risks a higher sentence.

Example :

A person who threatens to die faces a sentence of up to 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

However, if this offense is preceded, accompanied or followed by a homophobic act, the perpetrator shall be punished by 6 years' imprisonment and €90,000 of fine.

If you are a victim of an act homophobic, you must collect as much evidence as possible of this action. This may include the following:

  • Identity and contact details of the perpetrator (surname, first name, email address, telephone number, etc.)
  • Screenshots (SMS, images sent by messages, etc.)
  • Copying emails
  • Audio or video recordings
  • Result of a testing
  • Witness Attestation (with their full identity)
  • Medical certificate.

All these documents must be dated.

This evidence is essential if you report the facts or if you file complaint.

Associations fighting against homophobia can help you free of charge.

You can exchange with the volunteers of the association « SOS homophobia », by phone, by email (for young people aged 12 to 20) or via a chat:

Who shall I contact

In addition, you will find the contact details of several national and departmental associations in the directory of the Interministerial Delegation to Combat Racism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-LGBT Hatred:

Know the associations fighting racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, etc.

These associations can listen to you, give you moral and legal support (for example, they have the possibility to take legal action in your place).

Their members can also refer you to professionals (lawyer, psychologist, etc.) who will help you in your steps (example: filing a complaint).

There are different ways to report an act homophobic. They differ according to the nature of the offense and the way it was committed.

FYI  

The same homophobic act can be reported to several authorities and entities. The report may be followed up or accompanied by a complaint.

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Homophobic act committed on the internet

A homophobic act can be reported to several authorities and entities when it is committed on the internet. Thus, it is possible to make a report:

  • To law enforcement
  • To the internet host, in particular so that the published content is immediately removed
  • To the employer if the offense was committed by one of your colleagues or supervisors.
Reporting to law enforcement

It is possible to report to law enforcement from the platform PHAROS: titleContent.

Report illegal internet content (internet-report: Pharos)

FYI  

This platform is open to adults and minors.

If PHAROS teams believe the content is illicit, the alert is forwarded to the competent authorities (e.g. investigation services of the National Police or the National Gendarmerie). An investigation may be conducted under the authority of public prosecutor.

In addition, police and gendarmes can contact the hosting provider site or platform concerned and ask him to remove the illegal content.

Reporting to website managers

The hosting providers must provide you with mechanisms to report content illicit published on a site or online platform, when they consider it unlawful.Report abusive behavior on TikTok

These mechanisms must be easily accessible: you must be able to issue a report by electronic means.

Please note

It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the internet host. You can directly report the facts to the host.

Major online platforms (X,Facebook,Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) have elaborate reporting systems that allow for a precise explanation of the situation and the reporting of illegal content.

In the case of independent websites (e.g. the website of a company), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).

FYI  

In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.

The alert shall contain the following information:

  • Your identity information and contact details
  • Content that you believe is illegal
  • Detailed explanation of why you believe the publication is unlawful
  • Information to identify the author of the offense (for example, the URL of the site)
  • Statement confirming that you actually believe the content is illegal
  • Possible steps taken to contact the perpetrator.

Following the report, the host must verify that the reported content is illegal.

If so, he must immediately notify the competent authorities (e.g. public prosecutor) and remove or block access to illegal content.

FYI  

If you have reported illegal content to the host and it has not deleted it, you can call on a dispute resolution body. This organization will make proposals for you to find an amicable agreement with the host. This approach is paid for: the price varies depending on the organization you enter.

Reporting to the employer

The means of reporting a homophobic act and the way in which reports are handled depend on your working situation:

Private sector

As a victim or witness of a homophobic act, you can make a report to your employer.

This report must be made in writing (e-mail, letter, letter RAR: titleContent).

FYI  

If the facts were committed by the employer himself, it is possible to contact Labor Inspection, staff representatives or trade union representatives.

Once the employer has received the report, it must conduct an investigation within the company.

If it finds that the reported facts are true, it takes all necessary measures to protect the mental and physical health of its employees.

He or she should consider one of the following disciplinary sanctions, depending on the seriousness of the facts:

If the employer does not take adequate measures against the perpetrator, it may criminal liability.

FYI  

There are special reporting arrangements in case of discrimination at work, of psychological harassment or sexual harassment.

Public sector

As a public official (civil servant and contract worker) who is the victim of a homophobic act, you can functional protection of your employer administration.

To benefit from such protection, you must apply to your employer.

It must contain the statement of the facts for which you are making a report and be accompanied by all supporting documents proving the homophobic act.

If your application is accepted, your administration will:

  • Take the necessary measures to stop your injury
  • You will pay compensation to make good your damage
  • Will bear all or part of the costs of the procedure (if you make a legal action).

FYI  

There are special reporting arrangements in case of discrimination at work, of psychological harassment or sexual harassment.

Homophobic discrimination

If you are a victim or witness of a discrimination Homophobic, you have the possibility to report it to the police and the Defender of Rights.

Where discrimination has occurred in the professional context, there is a special procedure for reporting the facts.

Reporting to law enforcement

You can report to law enforcement via instant messaging:

Report a case of discrimination to law enforcement

This service allows for direct dialog with a police officer or a member of the gendarmerie.

Reporting to the Defender of Rights

You can contact the Advocate by phone or online. A specific device is provided for deaf and hard of hearing people.

By phone

You can contact the Defender of Rights at 3928 from Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 am to 7 pm (excluding public holidays).

Referral to the Defender of Rights can lead to 3 solutions:

  • A mediation : appointed by the Defender of Rights, the Ombudsman hears the persons concerned. Mediation may not exceed 3 months, renewable 1 time.
  • A transaction : the Defender of Rights proposes to the perpetrator one or more sanctions (payment of a fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts). In case of agreement, the transaction must be validated by the public prosecutor.
  • A legal action : If the Defender of Rights becomes aware of facts that may constitute an offense or if the author refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights shall refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor.
Online

You can contact the lawyers of the Defender of Rights by instant messaging (chat):

Submit a case of discrimination by instant messaging to the Defender of Rights

Access is provided for deaf or hard of hearing persons:

Report discrimination to the Defender of Rights (specific device for deaf or hard of hearing people)

Referral to the Defender of Rights can lead to 3 solutions:

  • A mediation : appointed by the Defender of Rights, the Ombudsman hears the persons concerned. Mediation may not exceed 3 months, renewable 1 time.
  • A transaction : the Defender of Rights proposes to the perpetrator one or more sanctions (payment of a fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts). In case of agreement, the transaction must be validated by the public prosecutor.
  • A legal action : If the Defender of Rights becomes aware of facts that may constitute an offense or if the author refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights shall refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor.

Insult, violence, defamation, incitement to hatred, etc. (off-line)

If you are a victim of a homophobic act (insult, violence, etc.) that was not committed on the internet, you can file a handrail with the police or gendarmerie.

When the offense has been committed in the course of work, you also have the opportunity to make a report to the employer. The means of reporting a homophobic act and how reports are handled depend on your situation:

Private sector

As a victim or witness of a homophobic act, you can make a report to your employer.

This report must be made in writing (e-mail, letter, letter RAR: titleContent).

FYI  

If the facts were committed by the employer himself, it is possible to contact Labor Inspection, staff representatives or trade union representatives.

Once the employer has received the report, it must conduct an investigation within the company.

If it finds that the reported facts are true, it takes all necessary measures to protect the mental and physical health of its employees.

He or she should consider one of the following disciplinary sanctions, depending on the seriousness of the facts:

If the employer does not take adequate measures against the perpetrator, it may criminal liability.

FYI  

There are special reporting arrangements in case of discrimination at work, of psychological harassment or sexual harassment.

Public sector

As a public official (civil servant and contract worker) who is the victim of a homophobic act, you can functional protection of your employer administration.

To benefit from such protection, you must apply to your employer.

The request must contain the statement of the facts for which you are making a report and be accompanied by all supporting documents proving the homophobic act.

If your application is accepted, your administration will:

  • Take the necessary measures to stop your injury
  • You will pay compensation to make good your damage
  • Will bear all or part of the costs of the procedure (if you make a legal action).

FYI  

There are special reporting arrangements in case of discrimination at work, of psychological harassment or sexual harassment.

As victim of a homophobic act, you have the possibility to file a complaint against the perpetrator of the facts. You can also constitute a civil party to obtain compensation.

FYI  

If you are a minor, you can file a complaint, but you must be accompanied by your parents to file a civil suit.

As soon as you file a complaint, you can ask to be represented by a lawyer.

In general, you have a period of 6 years from the commission of the facts.

Warning  

For the facts insult, defamation, incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, that period shall be of 1 year from the last time a homophobic act was committed.

The complaint can be filed directly at the police station or gendarmerie of your choice. It may also be transmitted to the public prosecutor competent.

On site

To file a complaint, you must go to police station or to the gendarme of your choice.

Who shall I contact

Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are a victim of a offense.

It's the public prosecutor who decides on the action to be taken on the complaint (investigation, filing without follow-up...).

By post

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

To do this, you need to send a letter to court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Your mail should include the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of injury
  • Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, videos, various invoices, statements...

You can use the following mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by mail or file it directly at the reception of the court.

The complaint may lead to a police investigation and then to a conviction of the perpetrator by the criminal courts. The penalties he faces depend on the offense that he committed.

For example, the author of violence of a homophobic nature shall be punished by 3 years' imprisonment and €45,000 fine, if they have resulted in a total incapacity for work less than 8 days.

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