France’s First Transgender Mayor Vows to Wake Up Village Over Social and Environmental Issues

Cau received a decisive first spherical victory in France’s native elections on March 15, as her “Deciding In combination” manifesto garnered nearly all of the full votes within the 550-strong village, positioned with regards to the Belgian border.

The 50-year-old’s inauguration came about over two months after the election — as a substitute of the standard 5 days — on account of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am not in any respect stunned via the outcome,” mentioned Cau, who has a gradual blue gaze.

An engineer, she described herself as at the start operating like an organization boss, with a keenness for agriculture and the surroundings.

‘No longer as a result of I am transgender’

The brand new mayor says town’s citizens voted for her as a result of they determine together with her need to expand sustainable agriculture and the native financial system, in addition to keep the surroundings.

“The villagers did not vote for or in opposition to me as a result of I am transgender. They voted for a programme and values. Social ties have disappeared, other people need exchange,” Cau mentioned.

“My dream is to construct an exemplary village, to display that ordinary electorate can do issues that the federal government can not,” she mentioned.

“Congratulations, we want you excellent good fortune!” mentioned a 50-year-old villager in entrance of the small brick the city corridor.

The newly-elected mayor will take place of business in difficult occasions because of the pandemic.

However she can have a dream crew via her aspect, she mentioned, which has a really perfect variety of age, foundation and gender.

Cau’s gender does not subject to villager Herve Fontanel. “She has been dwelling right here for 20 years, we know the way she works. If she manages to create ties, such a lot the easier for Tilloy!”

His neighbour, Marie-Josee Godefroy, agreed. “The village shall be revived and spoken of extra,” she mentioned.

Trans visibility

Marie Cau is understood via her 3rd heart identify. Within the 15 years since her transition, she says she hasn’t ever been the sufferer of discrimination. “It is uncommon. Individuals are thoughtful, regardless of a few blunders,” she mentioned.

“She did not have any taboos, she spoke about herself to those who requested questions to finish the dialog there,” mentioned her spouse and the city councillor Nathalie Leconte.

“I am stunned via the massive media consideration given to her election,” Leconte added.

Cau mentioned “it is unexpected that it is unexpected”.

“This case will have to be standard, since other people vote for a crew and a venture,” the mayor mentioned, including that she is impatiently looking forward to the day when the election of a transgender individual is a non-event.

However Cau recognises the significance of her election. “It displays that transgender other people may have a regular social and political existence,” she mentioned.

France’s gender equality minister Marlene Schiappa congratulated the freshly appointed mayor.

“The visibility of trans other people and the combat in opposition to transphobia additionally takes position in the course of the workout of public and political obligations. Congratulations to Marie Cau!” Schiappa tweeted Sunday.

Co-president of SOS Homophobie Veronique Godet mentioned that Cau’s election is a landmark within the historical past of trans other people and French politics.

“We will be able to see as of late that many trans individuals are in a means of emancipation and are starting to occupy public areas from which they have been in the past excluded,” added Giovanna Rincon, the pinnacle of the transgender rights’ workforce Acceptess-T.

Rincon hopes that all these occasions will build up in frequency, “till the election of a transgender mayor of a large town comparable to Paris.”