A Committed Figure Elected Overwhelmingly as President Marine Rosset has been elected President of the Scouts and Guides of France, receiving 22 out of 24 votes from the board. A 39-year-old elected representative for the Socialist Party in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, Rosset previously served as vice president of the organization from 2019 to 2022. A former history-geography teacher in Seine-Saint-Denis, she is also an active political figure who ran in both the 2022 and 2024 legislative elections under the banners of NUPES and the New Popular Front (NFP). In a 2024 interview with Émile, a magazine by Sciences Po alumni, Rosset expressed her commitment to defending “women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and abortion access,” which she sees as vital in resisting the rise of far-right ideologies symbolized, in her view, by the Rassemblement National. Politics and Personal Life Spark Controversy Since her appointment, Rosset has faced intense criticism, particularly from conservative and far-right spheres. Much of the backlash has targeted her political stance, but her personal life has also come under scrutiny. Open about her same-sex partnership, she recently discussed her family publicly: “I have a child who is a year and a half old… This child has two mothers. In countries already ruled by the far right, like Italy, our family would be unrecognized,” she told Émile. Her openness has drawn criticism from some members of the Catholic Church. On X (formerly Twitter), Father Clément Barré, a priest from the Diocese of Bordeaux and member of the Scouts and Guides of France, questioned whether Rosset’s public positions align with the Church’s teachings: “If you seek to hold leadership in a Catholic organization, I believe it is essential not to publicly advocate positions that contradict Church doctrine,” he wrote. As Le Monde notes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes homosexuality as “intrinsically disordered.” J’ajouterais que, lorsqu’on aspire à exercer des responsabilités dans une association catholique, il me paraît essentiel de ne pas défendre publiquement des positions en contradiction avec l’enseignement de l’Église.— Abbé Clément Barré (@ClemBarre) June 18, 2025 Internal Tensions and a Call for Inclusion Despite the controversy, several voices within the organization support Marine Rosset’s leadership. A priest involved in the Scouts and Guides of France told Le Monde that the concern is not her sexual orientation, but rather the political tone of her statements and their prominence in the public sphere. In response to the debate, Rosset affirmed her vision for a pluralistic and welcoming environment within the movement: “Given the polarization in society today, our organization is a vital space for the youth and the Church—one in which, as the prophet Isaiah said, the tent must be stretched wide,” she stated in her interview. Through her advocacy for inclusivity and dialogue, the new president positions herself as a unifying force, aware of the deep divisions affecting both the Catholic Church and broader society. She aims to ensure the Scouts and Guides of France remain a safe and inclusive space for every young person, regardless of background or identity. Latest LGBTQ+ News Stay informed with real-time LGBTQIA+ news from Queer Vibes Mag: USA NEWS WORLD NEWS Welcome to our LGBTQ+ news section—your go-to resource for the latest updates, insights, and progress within the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide. We are committed to offering empowering, inclusive, and informative articles on issues that matter. From human rights to cultural milestones, stay connected to the developments shaping our world. Join us in building a space of understanding, diversity, and mutual support.