Virginie Tellenne^[1] (née Merle;^[1][2] born September 25, 1962) better known by her alias Frigide Barjot, is a French humorist, columnist and political activist. A former socialite of the Parisian nightlife, who organized events defending the Catholic faith in the 2000s, Barjot rose to prominence in the early 2010s in France as a vocal campaigner against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption.

Born into a family from Lyon, Virginie Merle studied the law at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 and Sciences Po before joining the public relations office of the French Gaullist political party Rally for the Republic (RPR).^[3][4][5] As a young woman, Barjot was a figure of the Parisian nightlife, and would regularly attend gay clubs; she has described herself as a "fag hag" (fille à pédés in French).^[6][7][8]

In the 1980s, Barjot met Bruno Tellenne, also known as Basile de Koch, a speechwriter and the founder of comedy group Jalons;^[2][7] the group styled itself as a "cultural intervention group", which specialized in parody and subvertising campaigns. She later became herself a member of Jalons, adopting the alias "Frigide Barjot",^{[note 1]} and gradually became a prominent member within the group. In the 1990s, Barjot was a regular guest on some French talk shows such as On a tout essayé..^[9]

In 2004, Barjot claimed to have had a mystical experience during a trip to Lourdes which reportedly renewed her Roman Catholic faith.^[2] She became gradually more vocal about her religion, presenting herself as "Jesus's press attaché" and organizing events defending Christianity, especially then-Pope Benedict XVI.^[10]

In 2012, as the French government announced their proposal to make same-sex marriage legal in France, Barjot was one of activists who organized demonstrations in Paris to oppose the project.^[11] She became a spokeswoman for La Manif pour Tous, an umbrella organization campaigning against same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption.^[3]

In 1994, Barjot married humorist Basile de Koch (born Bruno Tellenne), founder of comedy group Jalons of which Barjot was a member.^[12] As of 2013, they have two children.^[2]

• Trois zéros (2002) – as Brigitte
• People (2004) – as a jet setter
• Turf (2013) – as a guest

• J'élève mon mari, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 2001, ISBN 2-7096-2234-3
• J'éduque mes parents (co-authored with Basile de Koch), Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 2004
• Manuel de survie de la femme moderne
• Le manifeste foutiste : traité de sagesse à l'usage des petits et des glands (co-authored with Basile de Koch), Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 2000 ISBN 2-709-62125-8
• Confessions d'une catho branchée, Éditions Plon, 2011 ISBN 978-2-259-21307-3
• Touche pas à mon sexe, contre le « mariage » gay, Éditions Mordicus, 2013, ISBN 978-2-918-41459-9

• LGBT rights in France