Solidarity with Ukraine, and with a message focused on the fight against transphobia, the march of LGBTQ+ pride has gathered several thousand people.
Le Monde with AFP
Unicorns, glitter, rhinestones and big sound: despite a very gray Parisian sky, the march of LGBTQ+ pride found colors, Saturday, June 25, after two years tarnished by the Pandemic of COVID-19. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., a compact crowd set off from the golden door (12 e ) in the direction of the Place de la République, in a fine rain and in a festive atmosphere as it is the case generally since the 1970s.
of the umbrellas and rainbow capes enamelled the procession, between the different tanks of associations or LGBTQ+ companies of companies like Air France or SNCF. The authorities, who anticipated a mobilization of 25,000 to 35,000 people in the capital, had decided to strengthen security in the aftermath of the deadly shooting in Oslo near a gay club.
But the concern was not in place among the participants. Several of them sported “free hug” signs (free hug), called to “imagine gay life” or proclaimed: “we are not monsters”. On the outskirts of the procession, sellers of hats, flags, whistles and other goodies in rainbow colors supplied the troops.
against transphobic violence
The watchword chosen this year by the inter-LGBT associative collective, which organizes this march, is: “Our bodies, our rights, your mouths!” An assumed virulent formula which aims in particular to protest against “trivialization “” LGBTQIPHOBE and especially transphobic “speech, too often ignored by the public authorities, according to them.
Walking is also in solidarity with Ukraine. As a symbol, it was Anna, a lesbian activist from this country at war since February 24, who was the first to speak in the headboard.
“There are two situations that really changed my life: a very bad coming twelve years ago and then the war,” she testified in French, rejoicing to be in front of “people Free and courageous “and calling for support.
Other speeches followed to denounce homophobia, but also to worry about the rise of the extreme right, to highlight the fate of LGBTQ+ migrants or even move from the decision on Friday , from the American Supreme Court to revoke the right to abortion. An activist also insisted on the fact that walking is “a great moment of claim” and no “a big colorful party with good music”.
alternative steps
But in the crowd, the atmosphere was happy. Coming from the dawn with his wife, Sandrine Martineau, 51, feathered headdress, said she was “proud” and “breathtaking” by the crowds. Many young people were present, like Sandra Vail, 19, “proud to represent the LGBT community” and “show that love has no sex”.
Not far from there, Eloise, 15, coming from Etampes with friends for his first step, heard “saying that we are there, that we exist” and rejoiced to have a moment with others LGBTQ+ because “in college, there are not many people …”. Sequins of rhinestones stuck on the front, Jennifer Than, 22, for whom it was also a first, insisted that “you have to accept everyone and that’s it!”.
In the afternoon, the organizers had planned three minutes of silence in tribute to the victims of AIDS. A concert was also on the menu at the end of the day with a hundred artists including Bilal Hassani, ex-Candidat from France to Eurovision.
In addition to this usual event, alternative marches have appeared in recent years, displaying other slogans and demands, often more protest. On June 4, a thousand people paraded in Saint-Denis for the second “PRIDE of the suburbs”. And on June 19 they were, according to associations, some 50,000 in Paris at the “radical pride” anti -capitalist and anti -racist.