Marine Rosset, the chief of France’s biggest scout movement, which has its roots in Catholicism, has said she is stepping down after less than two months following attacks over her sexuality.
Rosset, who is in a same-sex relationship and is the mother of a child, made the announcement in an interview published on Wednesday by the Catholic newspaper, La Croix.
“I have chosen to step down as president of the Scouts and Guides of France (SGDF),” said Rosset, who is an elected councillor with the Socialist Party (PS) and supports the right of women to have their unborn child killed in abortion.
“The situation had become untenable and my goal is to protect the movement,” Rosset told the newspaper.
She accused “political, PR, and even financial forces” of having attacked her.
Rosset was chosen in mid-June as the head of the movement at the age of just 39.
Her appointment got angry reactions from several conservative sites and prompted wary reactions within the Church.
