Resignation Marks the End of Marie Cau’s Historic Mayoral Term
Marie Cau made national headlines in 2020 when she became the first transgender mayor in France, elected to lead the small town of Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes, near Valenciennes. Her groundbreaking victory was a milestone for inclusion and visibility. However, her tenure came to an early close when she officially resigned, citing intense fatigue and growing tensions within the municipal council that left her feeling increasingly isolated.
“Most of the criticism I faced was because I held the role of mayor,” she explained. “People didn’t come calmly with concerns—they came in yelling.”
Reflecting on a Vivid and Transformative Journey
Positive Memories Tempered by Community Challenges
Six months after stepping down, Cau remains a resident of the same town, living just across from the town hall. As she reflects on her five years of service, she recalls the experience as overwhelmingly meaningful. “It was truly incredible,” she says. For her, serving as an openly transgender mayor provided a rare sense of validation. “When you’re trans, you live much of your life hiding. Being seen and valued for who I am—that was a kind of personal redemption.”
Still, Cau points to a recurring small group within the town whose self-interests, she believes, disrupted the democratic process. “It’s the same people with egos and personal agendas, constantly stirring up division,” she explains. “That makes building anything constructive very difficult.”
Civic Disengagement Limits Local Progress
In addition to political infighting, Cau expressed disappointment over the community’s lack of civic engagement. Despite her commitment to fostering participatory democracy, involving citizens proved more difficult than expected. “Most people just stay home. It’s hard to get them involved,” she noted. “Even organizing basic community events became a struggle.”
This general apathy, she says, created a major barrier to implementing long-term initiatives and hindered real progress.
Visibility: A Double-Edged Sword
While her gender identity drew both support and scrutiny, Cau insists it wasn’t the core issue affecting her term. Like many local leaders, she confronted limited funding and excessive expectations. “Being transgender didn’t help, of course, but it wasn’t the root of the challenges,” she said.
Still, she shared that transphobic comments—though never made publicly—contributed to her sense of emotional strain. “There were moments where it added to the pressure,” she admitted, “but I never allowed that to define the work I did.”
Burnout, Resilience, and What Comes Next
After five demanding years in office—and what she describes as “two years of constant harassment at town hall”—Cau is taking time to rest and recover. “I’m exhausted,” she says candidly, noting that the experience took a toll on her well-being.
Yet she has no intention of stepping away from public life entirely. Marie Cau continues to support local nonprofit organizations and remains vocal on issues she cares about. “I’ll still be here, sharing my perspective and supporting the community in other ways,” she affirms.
As for a potential return to politics? She hasn’t ruled it out. “I have a lot of ideas,” she adds with a hopeful smile.