Frigide Barjot | |
---|---|
![]() Frigide Barjot in 2014 | |
Born | Virginie Merle 25 September 1962 |
Nationality | French |
Education |
Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 Sciences Po |
Occupation | Activist |
Known for | Opposition to Same-sex marriage in France |
Virginie Tellenne [1] ( née Merle; [1] [2] born September 25, 1962) better known by her alias Frigide Barjot, is a French humorist, columnist and political activist. A former socialite of the Parisian nightlife, who organized events defending the Catholic faith in the 2000s, Barjot rose to prominence in the early 2010s in France as a vocal campaigner against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption.
Born into a family from Lyon, Virginie Merle studied the law at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 and Sciences Po before joining the public relations office of the French Gaullist political party Rally for the Republic (RPR). [3] [4] [5] As a young woman, Barjot was a figure of the Parisian nightlife, and would regularly attend gay clubs; she has described herself as a " fag hag" (fille à pédés in French). [6] [7] [8]
In the 1980s, Barjot met Bruno Tellenne, also known as Basile de Koch, a speechwriter and the founder of comedy group Jalons; [2] [7] the group styled itself as a "cultural intervention group", which specialized in parody and subvertising campaigns. She later became herself a member of Jalons, adopting the alias "Frigide Barjot", [note 1] and gradually became a prominent member within the group. In the 1990s, Barjot was a regular guest on some French talk shows such as On a tout essayé.. [9]
In 2004, Barjot claimed to have had a mystical experience during a trip to Lourdes which reportedly renewed her Roman Catholic faith. [2] She became gradually more vocal about her religion, presenting herself as " Jesus's press attaché" and organizing events defending Christianity, especially then- Pope Benedict XVI. [10]
In 2012, as the French government announced their proposal to make same-sex marriage legal in France, Barjot was one of activists who organized demonstrations in Paris to oppose the project. [11] She became a spokeswoman for La Manif pour Tous, an umbrella organization campaigning against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption. [3]
In 1994, Barjot married humorist Basile de Koch (born Bruno Tellenne), founder of comedy group Jalons of which Barjot was a member. [12] As of 2013, they have two children. [2]
Frigide Barjot | |
---|---|
![]() Frigide Barjot in 2014 | |
Born | Virginie Merle 25 September 1962 |
Nationality | French |
Education |
Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 Sciences Po |
Occupation | Activist |
Known for | Opposition to Same-sex marriage in France |
Virginie Tellenne [1] ( née Merle; [1] [2] born September 25, 1962) better known by her alias Frigide Barjot, is a French humorist, columnist and political activist. A former socialite of the Parisian nightlife, who organized events defending the Catholic faith in the 2000s, Barjot rose to prominence in the early 2010s in France as a vocal campaigner against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption.
Born into a family from Lyon, Virginie Merle studied the law at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 and Sciences Po before joining the public relations office of the French Gaullist political party Rally for the Republic (RPR). [3] [4] [5] As a young woman, Barjot was a figure of the Parisian nightlife, and would regularly attend gay clubs; she has described herself as a " fag hag" (fille à pédés in French). [6] [7] [8]
In the 1980s, Barjot met Bruno Tellenne, also known as Basile de Koch, a speechwriter and the founder of comedy group Jalons; [2] [7] the group styled itself as a "cultural intervention group", which specialized in parody and subvertising campaigns. She later became herself a member of Jalons, adopting the alias "Frigide Barjot", [note 1] and gradually became a prominent member within the group. In the 1990s, Barjot was a regular guest on some French talk shows such as On a tout essayé.. [9]
In 2004, Barjot claimed to have had a mystical experience during a trip to Lourdes which reportedly renewed her Roman Catholic faith. [2] She became gradually more vocal about her religion, presenting herself as " Jesus's press attaché" and organizing events defending Christianity, especially then- Pope Benedict XVI. [10]
In 2012, as the French government announced their proposal to make same-sex marriage legal in France, Barjot was one of activists who organized demonstrations in Paris to oppose the project. [11] She became a spokeswoman for La Manif pour Tous, an umbrella organization campaigning against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption. [3]
In 1994, Barjot married humorist Basile de Koch (born Bruno Tellenne), founder of comedy group Jalons of which Barjot was a member. [12] As of 2013, they have two children. [2]