text: is homophobia prevalent in france? i am currently doing a family stay in brest, france (on the far tip of brittany) and i am debating whether to tell my host family that i am gay. from my experience, vacation work in dunkirk (dunkerque) i had no problems with my work colleagues knowing i wasn't 100% straight roast-beef.  the gay community was well established, with every tabaclerie stocking "le gai pied".    france, i've always thought, was about love and passion in any and all things.  you've had an opening to tell them ("et les jolies filles?" "non, je préfère les mecs.") and chosen not to discuss it.    your situation is also different to mine - i stayed in a hostel ("foyer sncf" - with several of my work colleagues) - i wasn't beholden to sharing a family's homelife.  i'd leave from telling them (you've maybe chosen the same) - unless the topic arises.    yes there are ignorant folk "eh toi! pd!" in france but, on balance, i wouldn't worry about it.