Historian Aude Mairey argues in a Le Monde op-ed that Joan of Arc, beyond her role as France's national savior, is a queer and feminist icon, especially in the Anglophone world since the late 19th century. This historical figure continues to inspire modern movements, as seen in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
Joan of Arc, famed for saving Orléans and crowning Charles VII in Reims in 1429, was captured by the English in 1430 and burned alive the following year. Beyond her traditional image as a national figure, she represents a queer icon, first in the Anglophone world and more recently in France.
During the July 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, a rider in armor paraded along the Seine, drawing from Joan of Arc. Organizers confirmed the inspiration, and creator Jeanne Friot emphasized its queer dimension.
A pivotal moment is activist Leslie Feinberg's book Transgender Warriors (Beacon Press, 1996, untranslated), where the androgynous Joan—with short hair and men's clothing—embodies resistance to patriarchy. References have since proliferated: Madonna dedicated a 2015 song to her, and Angèle posed in armor on the cover of Photo magazine in 2024.
In her op-ed "These figures that still spark debate" (3/5), Aude Mairey argues that "the Maid" has served as a reference for feminist movements since the 19th century.