Albin Serviant (E92): ‘Anti-LGBT Attacks Have Risen by 17% Per Year’

Having relaunched the magazine Têtu, Albin Serviant (E92) teamed up with Thierry Jadot to lead The Pigments Project, a think & do tank which defends LGBTQIA+ rights, in a context of growing violence.

ESSEC Alumni: What is the current state of LGBTQIA+ in France? 

Albin Serviant: There is what I call a mirage of acceptance. On one hand, France has come a remarkably long way in this matter. Marriage for all, enacted in 2013, placed France among the European pioneers of equal rights. Likewise with the opening of medically assisted procreation (MAP) to all women, which allowed 12,000 of them to undertake their parental project in 2022. The figures reflect this societal transformation: acceptance of homosexuality has risen from 24% in 1975 to 85% in 2019, testifying to a revolution in mentalities in less than 50 years, and today 23% of Generation Z identify themselves as LGBTQIA+. On the other hand, this seemingly positive picture paradoxically conceals an alarming rise in violence: homophobic and transphobic attacks have risen by 17% per year since 2016, totalling 4,560 attacks in 2023. The situation is particularly critical for young people, who present a suicide risk four to five times higher than the average, and are twice as vulnerable to mental health issues than their heterosexual peers. The proliferation of hostile attitudes on social networks, combined with the disengagement from inclusion policies by certain international corporations, threaten to aggravate the situation. And our rights, while enshrined in law, remain highly vulnerable; they are already under open attack in some countries. There is a real risk of a return to forced invisibility for millions of citizens.

EA: In this light, what are the aims of The Pigments Project? 

A. Serviant: We work to shape more inclusive public policies and support social innovation. We target concrete actions with fast, tangible and measurable results. We start by leading rigorous independent surveys, in partnership with leading data players. We then create our own endowment fund to support and maintain high-impact initiatives. Lastly, we rally influential ambassadors who carry our message and lend visibility to our actions. We have thus drafted a manifesto gathering a growing number of signatures and published an op-ed for the universality of human rights, which has already received the support of more than 400 figures. We basically hope to act as a complement to the efforts of charity organisations who have been doing wonderful work for years, while drawing on the power of our network to contribute to the writing of a common story in a divided society. 

EA: Who supports your actions? 

A. Serviant: We rally a unique coalition of key figures from the business, political and cultural spheres. The success of our inaugural event testifies to this, gathering more than hundred business leaders, entrepreneurs, State representatives, community players and artists around Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the 2024 Paris Olympics. We’re planning other events and get-togethers with renowned guests in the weeks and months to come. More broadly, we’re calling on citizens, businesses and institutions to join our movement, which aims to be inclusive and reach beyond Parisian circles. 

EA: How can ESSEC members take part in your initiative? 

A. Serviant: ESSEC’s humanist values resonate deeply with The Pigments Project’s mission. Whether you’re a member of the LGBT+ community or simply an ally, give us your time as a volunteer, enrich our projects with your innovative ideas, offer financial support or become an ambassador for our cause within your networks. We will also be delighted to welcome students wishing to bring meaning to their study path through committed internships at the heart of the action. Every contribution matters.

EA: Beyond The Pigments Project, what actions to improve the situation for LGBTQI+ people would you see as relevant? 

A. Serviant: The French Government has already taken significant measures, such as the 2022 ban on ‘conversion therapies’ and the roll-out of an ambitious National Action Plan for equal rights. LGBTQI+ organisations are also pursuing their essential work on the ground and in the development of public policies. Major challenges remain, nevertheless, particularly for transgender and intersex people, who are the most exposed to discrimination and precarity. I see four priorities. First: education and raising awareness among the general public, because understanding is the first step to true acceptance. Second: constructive dialogue with those who express reluctance, to build bridges rather than walls. Third: influence public authorities, to push rights and their protection forward. Lastly, vigilance in terms of reversals, whether related to inclusion policies or moderation rules which protect the most vulnerable populations.

EA: Should we draw inspiration from other initiatives worldwide? 

A. Serviant: There are two organisations we find particularly inspiring. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in the USA developed assessment tools which have become benchmarks; specifically, the Corporate Equality Index which measures corporate inclusion policies and generates healthy emulation between organisations. Stonewall in the UK also carries out rigorous surveys on discrimination, mental health and inclusion in the workplace. Its Workplace Equality Index and in-depth research on the impact of public policies are effective drivers of dialogue. These models demonstrate that an approach based on solid data, combined with a constructive influence strategy, lead to concrete progress. This is what The Pigments Project aims to bring to France, which is hindered by a structural lack of data.

EA: Your activism for this cause began when you took over Têtu, the emblematic magazine for France’s LGBTQIA+ community. How did this adventure begin? 

A. Serviant: Têtu ran into financial difficulty in 2017. The shareholders alerted me, and I bought the magazine with Hervé Labeille, an ESCP classmate. Our aim was to transform this iconic brand into a genuine trigger for social change, far beyond its role as a simple publication. We have to acknowledge the work of Hamid Hassani, who contributed greatly to achieving this aim. Together, we redesigned Têtu as an upmarket quarterly, which regained its media power thanks to a strong digital presence, an innovative subscription model and striking covers featuring celebrities such as Antoine Griezmann, Madonna and Antoine Dupont. What’s more, we created Têtu Connect, a club of 40 companies committed to inclusion and rallied through various events and workshops, and Têtu Studio, a brand content agency working with prestigious brands such as LVMH, Mastercard or BNP Paribas for fair and authentic communication to the LGBTQI+ community. We also launched the Paris est Têtu festival, attracting some 3,000 people in 2019, and the annual Cérémonie des Têtu from 2023, which celebrates inspiring figures from our community. This whole project also carried a deeply personal facet, as it triggered my own coming-out to my family. 

EA: Why did you decide to step down from the Le Refuge Foundation and Groupe SOS in 2024?  

A. Serviant: Groupe SOS has been one of the shareholders since 2019. This major non-profit organisation, founded during the AIDS era, played a decisive role in the relaunch of Têtu, under the initiative of its president, Jean-Marc Borello. It thus naturally acquired 49% of the shares. Le Refuge Foundation, which became a majority shareholder with 51% shares, works with young LGBTQI+ people aged 14 to 25 facing family rejection due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. With a network of 400 volunteers and dedicated professional teams, it supports some 500 young people annually on their path to reconstruction and independence. It also raises awareness against discrimination, through targeted campaigns in schools and among the general public. Here again, the alliance was an obvious one for this new stage on the eve of the iconic brand's 30th anniversary. I also hail the decision under this new governance to transform Têtu into a company with a mission in the near future. 

EA: Thanks to Têtu Connect and Têtu Studio, you have developed expertise in in-company LGBTQI+ activism. More generally, how can the corporate world embrace these issues? 

A. Serviant: One third of LGBTQI+ people are still subjected to discrimination in their workplace. Change must come from management first, who must lead by example and drive a clear policy on this matter. This momentum must then be embodied by concrete programmes. Firstly, all employees, and managers in particular, must be aware of the issues surrounding inclusion and equipped to react in the event of a problem. Secondly, HR processes will need to be revamped at every step within the company, from recruitment to parental support. The setting-up of a network of allies and LGBTQI+ officers, associated with inclusive in-house communication, is also recommended. Not forgetting the adaptation of social benefits, with equal recognition of same-sex couples and parental rights. Lastly, commitment must not be limited to within the walls of the company; transparency is required in terms of actions led and their impacts, and suppliers sharing the same values should be chosen.

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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