“The city of Le Mans is very proud to welcome Bilal Hassani on July 6” announces the community, this Thursday, May 9, 2024, on its social networks. The artist with many hats will be the godfather of the Pride March, which attracts each year, in a festive atmosphere, some two thousand people to defend the rights of LGBTI + people, in the streets of Le Mans.
Bilal Hassani will also give a free concert that day, as part of the Plein Champ festival, at 7:15 p.m. at Gué-de-Maulny park.
Harassed, he is supported by the city of Le Mans
The choice to invite the singer is not surprising. Le Mans publicly supported Bilal Hassani, victim of homophobic harassment in 2023, after scheduling one of his concerts in a church in Metz. “The city will be proud to welcome him if he wishes”, had expressed the municipality on its social networks. The assistant for culture Christine Poupineau, cited by our colleagues from Ouest-France, insisted on the support that the city wished to provide: “He needs to know that our doors are open to him!” »
From Eurovision to Dancing with the Stars
The message appears to have been well received. The singer, who represented France at Eurovision in 2019, has already performed at the Foire du Mans and at the Jacobins shopping center that year.
The interpreter of “Roi”, revealed in 2015 during his participation in The Voice Kids, has become a true LGBT + icon. During his participation in the show “Dancing with the Stars”, in 2021, he formed the first pair of the same gender to perform on the show. The following season, he joined the jury box.
On their social networks, the Homogen and LM LGBT associations, co-organizers of the Pride March, describe the arrival of Bilal Hassani as an event “exceptional”.
