Born in the southwestern city of Pau. The first openly gay politician in France, and popular mayor of Pau, Senator, former French Member of Parliament, and former Minister of President Mitterand. He was openly homosexual.

Of his homosexuality he said: "To live as a homosexual is very difficult. When I declared myself gay it was to help young people, to say to them: look, you are homosexual. Accept the way you are. You'll see the world doesn't come to an end."

But Labarrère opposed gay marriages, saying: "There are enough cuckolds in the world not to add the gays."

He died of cancer at the age of 78.