The first LGBT pride march in Martinique, which was to be held on Friday in Fort-de-France, was canceled by the collective of associations which organized it after the modification of the circuit imposed by the town hall. “A succession of events and exchanges with the city of Fort-de-France” have brought «impossible» holding the “Human rights and LGBTQIA+ pride march” in the city center of the capital of Martinique, deplored KAP Caraïbe in a press release.
Initially planned for June 29 and then brought forward by a day due to the first round of early legislative elections taking place on Saturday in Martinique, this demonstration was to be the very first of its kind organized on the public highway in Martinique. The arrival point of the demonstration was to be “different from what was planned”, explained to AFP Maurice Ferné, the general director of services at Fort-de-France town hall. He justified this last minute modification of the route by the need to grant “a little respite” to local residents after the Music Festival (June 21).
“Unjust and degrading”
The official also highlighted the uproar caused by the existence of a video showing a dancer in his underwear and wearing a wig in the streets of downtown Fort-de-France during an LGBT event last week.
This response from the town hall to “an artistic proposal made within an activist framework” East “unjust and degrading”retorted KAP Caraïbe. The association castigated “permanent uncertainties” caused by the municipality until the day before the demonstration and criticized “stereotypes, clichés and prejudices unfortunately present at all levels” of Martinique society.
