an exhibition in support of LGBT + youth

The photo exhibition "From Rejection to Refuge" allows you to discover the portraits of 17 young people excluded from their homes because they are members of the LGBT + community and hosted by Le Refuge. The exhibition presented under the Canopée des Halles in Paris marks its passage into a foundation recognized for public utility. From October 5 to 18, come and discover their history …

Le Refuge, what is their role with the LGBT + community?

Created in 2003 in Montpellier, Le Refuge accommodates and supports LGBT + young people aged 14 to 25, rejected by their parents, driven from their family home because they are homosexual or transgender.

In its 17 years of existence, the association, which became a recognized public utility foundation in 2020, has supported no less than 8,503 young people and hosted 2,032.

A foundation, without which, thousands of young people would have had nowhere to go. Every evening, Le Refuge shelters 187 young people thanks to the mobilization of 455 volunteers.

The foundation fights for a more open society, it has forged a solid network to support and accommodate LGBT + youth rejected by those around them. By becoming a foundation and "by transforming the association, we want to open a new chapter in our history and secure our objectives of social practices in a structure endowed with reinforced resources, the Le Refuge Foundation», Explains Nicolas Noguier, the president of the foundation. She intends to contribute even more actively to an open and welcoming society that listens to its youth.

To support the foundation, a gala dinner is also planned for Monday, November 16 at the Pavillon d´Armenonville to raise funds. The event hosted by the Refuge's godmother, Muriel Robin, will allow the acquisition of new relay apartments. In recent months, the foundation has had to deal with increased demand for accommodation requests. And since 80% of funding comes from private donations, it becomes urgent to raise funds.

17 portraits of LGBT + youth rejected by their families

The exhibition portrays LGBT + youth rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Based on an idea by Adrien Figula-Letort, it serves above all to raise public awareness of LGBT-phobias and their dramatic consequences. It also celebrates the existence of the Refuge and its passage into a foundation recognized as being of public utility.

17 portraits of young people who highlight in a moving way the extraordinary work of the Refuge's volunteers. These same young people who have decided to speak out for thousands of LGBT phobias victims every year just because they are who they are.

They represent hope for members of the community who have experienced the trauma of having an intolerant family. And show that despite family and / or societal rejection, we can rebuild ourselves and live our life fully.

Learn more about these young people, their history, what marked them and how Le Refuge helped them through this difficult ordeal. Valentin was rejected by his family because he was gay. He recounts this difficult stage in his life, but also his reconstruction at Le Refuge. Valentin is one of 17 young people welcomed in recent years by Le Refuge who have agreed to pose in front of the lens of photographer Pascale Loussouarn.

See also: Sonia Rolland works alongside young homosexuals

Video by Ludivine Le Goff