Memorial Plaque For Executed Gay Couple Defaced During Paris Gay Games

The Gay Games 10 are finishing up in Paris, France this weekend. The games were created to promote LGBT athletes and sports activities, but also include general cultural events like LGBT film screenings and art festivals.

While the events were going on, something more sinister also happened in Paris this week. Unidentified vandals threw black paint and marked homophobic signage on a plaque that was dedicated to memorializing an executed gay couple from 1750. The couple was burned alive for sodomy, which was a crime at the time.

According to Hornet, the plaque reads, “January 4, 1750. Montorgueil Street between Saint-Sauveur Street and the former Beaurepaire Street where Brune Lenoir and Jean Dio were arrested and sentenced for homosexuality. They were burned at the stake on July 6, 1750. This was the last execution for homosexuality in France.”

SOS Homophobie, a French LGBT support organization that deals with homophobia, tweeted (originally in French) about the incident:

“The commemorative plaque of the last two homosexuals sentenced to death in France was vandalized again in Paris. We condemn this intolerable homophobic act, whose perpetrators must be punished. Let us all be united against hatred. #LGBT”

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also tweeted about the vandalism.

“I am shocked by this new shameful demonstration of homophobia,” Hildago wrote. “This plaque pays tribute to Bruno Lenoir and Jean Diot, the last to be sentenced to death for homosexuality. This act only reinforces our determination to fight against discrimination. #LoveWins.”