Interviewed by Konbini alongside the TikTokeuse Anissa, Catherine Lara spoke about her early coming-out and the violent reactions aroused by the revelation of her homosexuality.
There are exchanges that we would prefer to forget. Whether Catherine Lara is now an internationally recognized artist, the singer and violinist has made public her homosexuality very early. Already in 1983, when she released the song Fallthe musician reveals to the public her lesbianism through her words: “For a long time I thought what others thought, For a long time I lived as if I were someone else […]For a long time I have known parallel loves […] Until the day when Autonomous, Autonomous, Free to love a woman or a man…“, she sings then. But in reality, the coming-out of the star dates back to childhood, as she mentioned for Konbini in a cross interview with the TikToker Anissa (6nissa).
“I came out at, I don’t know, 5 years, maybe…“, remembered Catherine Lara. A revelation which was accompanied by a slow progression: “I preferred to tame over time, I didn’t want to hurt my parents“, she continues, explaining that her entourage, very practicing, was of the Catholic faith. Despite these precautions, that shared the life of Muriel Robin was not spared by homophobia: “We said: ‘Well, she’s a little… She’s a bitch… She’ll pass with time, we’ll take care of her.“, recalls the interpreter of The Diamond Rocker. Especially since until 1981, homosexuality was penalized, a time remembered by Catherine Lara, who adds: “it was a disease, you had to get treatment or see a shrink“.
Catherine Lara and her famous repartee
Never stingy with confidences, the composer was one of the first to assume her preference for women on a television set. In 1986, in the show My own Zenithwhen the host Michel Denisot asks her what she looks for first in a man, Catherine Lara replies: “his wife“. A touch of well-felt irony, which we still hear from both sides, and which we owe to the 77-year-old artist. In March 2020, Catherine Lara paraded through the streets of Tunis on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, with the institute “Over fifty… so what?“, emphasizing the visibility of women aged fifty and over.
© Cyril Moreau – Coadic Guirec
3/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara explains, however, that her private coming out dates back to her five years.
© Cyril Moreau – Coadic Guirec
4/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara remembers violent remarks heard in her entourage: “It’s a lit …. We will treat it over time”.
© Photonews
5/12 –
Catherine Lara, Muriel Robin
Catherine Lara notably shared the life of Muriel Robin, from 1990 to 1995.
© BALDINI
6/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara is 77 years old.
© Cyril Moreau – Coadic Guirec
7/12 –
Catherine Lara
In 1986, during a television program, when Michel Denisot asked Catherine Lara what she looked at first in a man, she replied: “his wife”.
© BALDINI
8/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara continues to perform on stage. She is a renowned singer, violinist and composer.
© Christopher Clovis
9/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara participated in a March 2020 parade for International Women’s Rights Day alongside women aged fifty and over.
© BALDINI
10/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara began her musical career in 1972, with her first album “Ad Libitum”.
© Cyril Moreau – Coadic Guirec
11/12 –
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara also played for Sidaction.
© Cyril Moreau – Coadic Guirec
12/12 –
Exclusive – No Web – Special Prize – Catherine Lara – Backstage of the recording of the show “Sid
Exclusive – No Web – Special Prize – Catherine Lara – Backstage of the recording of the program “Sidaction, ensemble contre le Sida – Merci Line” at the Paradis Latin in Paris, which will be broadcast on March 27 on France 2. March 1 2021. As L.RENAUD prepares to speak the first words of the 2021 edition, she did not expect to discover that the artists she has mobilized around the fight against AIDS have secretly reserved for her a great surprise evening on the Paradis Latin stage to thank her for the exceptional fight she has been leading for 35 years!
Saturday March 27, 2021 at 9:05 p.m. on France 2, discover this great surprise evening orchestrated by an unprecedented duo: M.ROBIN and O.MINNE and with the complicity of JPGAULTIER.
Together, alongside L.RENAUD, they will welcome many complicit guests who will pay tribute to this exceptional woman by browsing in songs and archives 35 years of this fight which is her whole life! Many anonymous people that L.Renaud has helped for 35 years will also come to testify to the invaluable support they have received from him.
This evening of commitment for the Sidaction association will once again be an opportunity to raise awareness among viewers and appeal to their generosity by calling 110.
Surprises, emotion, sharing and good humor will punctuate this very special edition of Sidaction…
© C.Guirec-C.Moreau / Bestimage