A French women’s rights activist has been found guilty of “public insult” over a remark she made during a televised debate with a trans-identified male. Dora Moutot was informed on May 20 that she had been convicted of “public insult against a person or group of people on account of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity” due to her comment that women are “wary of people with penises.”
Moutot made the statement during an October 2022 episode of the popular talk show Quelle Époque!, where she had been invited as a guest to debate a trans-identified male named Marie Cau, the mayor of Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes. While discussing the issue of men who claim to be transgender women, Moutot stated that women have a need to be cautious in the presence of “people with penises.”
In its ruling, the court argued that Moutot had reduced “transgender women” to “their male attribute.”
Incredibly Moutot was fined €1,000, to be paid to the state, as well as the payment of €500 in damages to each of the three trans activist associations who backed Cau’s legal complaint, and an additional €2,000 to cover the court costs, which had come from public funding.
Moutot also stated that she intends to appeal the decision, saying that she is willing to take the case to the Court of Cassation, the highest court in France.
In September 2022, Cau published an autobiography titled Madame Mayor (Madame le Maire) wherein he described his urge to wear women’s clothing, an activity which he says brings about the “height of happiness” for him.
In his autobiography, Cau also detailed his divorce from his wife, and railed against the justice system, which granted custody of their children to his former wife.
In a staggering hypocrisy, though Moutot had been accused of “advocating violence against transgender individuals,” the author and women’s rights campaigner has herself been subjected to a targeted campaign of harassment, with trans activists explicitly calling for her murder.