Christophe Beaugrand suffered violent and homophobic harassment during his childhood. Memories which are still painful today, as he confided to the Le Refuge association.
Christophe Beaugrand has very unpleasant memories of his childhood. And for good reason, he was quickly sidelined, even harassed, for his homosexuality. “From primary school, I suffered this rejection that today we call harassment“, he told the media of the association Le Refuge, which aims to support and protect young LGBT+ people.
Christophe Beaugrand, harassed: his “terrible experiences” at school
Long before he understood that he “prefer boys“, Christophe Beaugrand was singled out and mocked by his other comrades. “When I was told, before I even realized it, I was identified as such, but I was called ‘faggot’, I was ‘the girl’, etc. I felt part of this minority at a very young age, ultimately“, explained the 49-year-old presenter.
Registered at the football club, the young boy felt marginalized when he was in the locker room with his other friends: “I remember feeling embarrassed and feeling very different in the locker room. I felt like I was being pushed aside. There was a very ultra masculine, virilistic side, even though they were kids“.
The one who is today morning host Good morning ! With you on TF1 has “suffered a lot“of this feeling of”not match the pattern at all“of society, during his childhood and adolescence.”That’s why with all the terrible experiences we can live through, we must try to turn them into strength. It’s easy to say, but it can also strengthen you in the face of a world which, unfortunately, is not always very welcoming and caring.“, he asserted.
Christophe Beaugrand, this person who helped him: “I found him on Facebook…”
Christophe Beaugrand, married to Ghislain Gerin since 2018 and father of little Valentin, aged 6, wanted to remind people in distress that despite adversity, “there are always adults, especially in the school domain, who can listen“. And added: “There are associations that respond, there is Le Refuge, there is a helpline (…) They are trained to give you keys so that you experience this situation as painlessly as possible.“.
When he was a teenager, the journalist, who always wears red underwear before each first broadcast, was unable to talk about his harassment to his parents, who did not yet know that he was homosexual, but was fortunately able to find help from another adult. He remembered from West France : “A German teacher, in 5e I believe, had noticed the mockery and had been very attentive and caring. I found him on Facebook two years ago. I was able to thank him and tell him how important he had been to me“.
