The LGBT+ defense association Mousse, allied with Stop Homophobia, filed a complaint against CNews (Canal+ group) for discrimination linked to sexual orientation after the ousting of a journalist who denounced homophobic remarks by his superior. This complaint, filed on Tuesday May 30, is based on the publication in December 2022 of an article by the online investigative media Mediapart which revealed the ousting of an independent journalist after he denounced homophobic remarks made by his hierarchical superior, according to AFP.
“Last November, the freelancer, whom she described as a “brat”, was dismissed after having denounced her remarks”, relates the article. The Mousse association, which has been committed to defending the rights of LGBT+ people for more than twenty years, has decided to take the case to court as an entity "legally authorized to act", according to the complaint that was able to consult AFP, Stop Homophobia also joining the procedure. According to Mediapart, the journalist, who had worked regularly for the channel for two years and who had been offered a one-year CDD (work contract), saw, a week after the denunciation of the facts, "all of his freelance work finally canceled by the channel ".
"Benjamin's homosexuality [first name of the journalist modified by Mediapart, editor's note] and the fact of having denounced the homophobic insult" of this official "were therefore taken into account in the decision to cancel his November 2022 freelance and of no longer wanting to sign the CDD with the latter”, is it exposed in the complaint. “There is therefore a real obstacle to a discriminatory economic activity” and “a refusal to hire”, deduces the lawyer for Mousse, Etienne Deshoulières. Asked by AFP, CNews refuted this interpretation, recalling the freelance status of its former collaborator. " We offered him a contract, the assigned mission did not suit him, by mutual agreement we did not follow up, at no time was he fired," argued the channel.