The participation of Parisian drag queen Minima Gesté as a torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has sparked controversy. Minima Gesté, whose real name is Arthur Raynaud, carried the Olympic torch at the Musée Carnavalet, celebrating the history of the French capital, on July 14, 2024. This historic moment marked a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community, with fellow drag queens Nicky Doll and Miss Martini also joining the relay.
Gesté expressed her pride and excitement on Instagram, describing the honor as a “unique and phenomenal opportunity.” However, her participation has not been without its detractors. Kate Barker-Mawjee, the chief executive of the anti-trans lobbying group LGB Alliance, alongside the right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok, criticized Gesté’s involvement. Barker-Mawjee claimed that having a drag queen in the relay was part of the “erasure of women in all spheres of public life.”
In response to the criticism, Gesté emphasized the importance of representation and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. She recounted to France 24 how, just a decade ago, the idea of a drag queen carrying the Olympic torch would have been unimaginable. Despite facing homophobic and transphobic insults since being named a torchbearer, Gesté remains steadfast in her message of pride and inclusion.
The backlash from LGB Alliance and Libs of TikTok has not gone unchallenged. Many supporters have defended Gesté, highlighting the significance of her role in promoting diversity and acceptance. One commenter under Barker-Mawjee’s post argued that including drag queens does not erase women but rather adds to the diversity of representation.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, organized by queer artistic director Thomas Jolly, aim to be inclusive and representative of all communities. Jolly, in an interview with British Vogue, stated that the success of the event would be measured by how well everyone feels represented. The slogan for both the Olympics and Paralympics, “Games Wide Open,” encapsulates this vision of inclusivity.