LaThe The dissolution of the government has disrupted all calendars. It has also placed the Paris Pride march at a particular moment: on the eve of a legislative election and a possible victory for the National Rally (RN).
This Saturday, thousands of people paraded from the Porte de la Villette (19the arrondissement) in République (XIe) to celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities and to emphasize the need to fight against all transphobic oppression. “Against transphobia: transsolidarities” was the slogan chosen by Inter-LGBT this year.
Before the march sets off, around 1 p.m. in the 19the district of Paris, the irruption of a far-right collective surprises and reminds us of the issue of the moment. A former member of Reconquest, the far-right activist Mila and a small group face the numerous rainbow flags to come and denounce the supposed “LGBT abuses” et “preserve their civilization”. Their brilliance lasts no more than ten minutes. The activists are immediately pushed back, Mila is floured before the police escort them away and the march begins.
The pride march this Saturday in Paris. © OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP
Enlarge image: Illustration 1
Like every year, the demonstrators sing and dance to the rhythm of the music spit out from the speakers of the tanks of different associations. “Tomorrow, don’t forget to go vote”this time a drag queen chants regularly. Many placards are also brandished to denounce “the danger of the RN” and the persistence of LGBTphobia. “Under the glitter, the rage”, “Smile, you are on the right side of history”, “More love, less Zemmour”, “More lesbians, fewer RNs”, “Save a faggot, go vote”we read in particular.
“It’s the 55e anniversary of the Stonewall riots », recalls Sébastien Tuller, LGBT+ manager at Amnesty. It was these first American demonstrations against police raids and these first struggles that gave birth to all the prides. He greets “the incalculable number of victories” acquired since then, but also regrets all the recent changes. “We are witnessing the decline of the rights of women, trans people, all minorities, everywhere in the world.” And in France ? “If the National Rally wins a majority in the Assembly, we know what that could lead to. We only have to look at the countries in which the extreme right has attacked the rule of law. There is always a disproportionate effect on LGBT rights.”
“It’s a party that hates equality. These are people who will never accept uscontinues committed lawyer Caroline Mécary. And history has shown that once in control, they are just as difficult to dislodge. Worse than bedbugs.” Sarah, 23, a student from the Antilles, shares this opinion. She judges ” necessary “ to come and walk ” Today ” avant “to go vote tomorrow”but wonders. “I already experience racism and homophobia on a daily basis, I’m used to it, but if the extreme right takes power, all of this will be trivialized. And what can I do?she says, worried. Maybe leave here. »
Colette is only 16 years old but wants to remind people that the RN has a history and holds up a placard. On it, Jean-Marie Le Pen’s head resting on a turkey and one of his many homophobic quotes: “Homosexuals are like salt in soup: if there’s none at all, it’s a bit bland, if there’s too much, it’s undrinkable. » She also wants to show “the madness that it is, to believe that Marine Le Pen’s party defends the LGBT+”.
Signs to recall the history of the RN. © Mediapart
Enlarge image: Illustration 2
The Aides association has not forgotten all the serophobia of the FN either. This party which has continued to denigrate people with HIV, which Jean-Marie Le Pen described as “leper” and wanted to see in « Sidatorium ». “The RN in power would be a catastrophe for health, for people born abroad who live with HIV and for all risk reduction policies”estimates Margault, 30 years old and volunteer within the association. “A public health policy is made with all populations”she recalls, while Jordan Bardella plans to eliminate state medical aid.
A “surge” over the past three weeks
Along the route, a few politicians also parade: Olivier Faure of the Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France insoumise (LFI), Sandrine Rousseau of the Ecologists, Ian Brossat of the Communist Party (PC)… “All steps are important, but this one is perhaps more important than all others.judges the PC senator. We have a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads and the recent LGBTphobic attacks show that the extreme right remains what it has always been: an organization always at the forefront to attack minorities.”
From where “the importance of staying mobilized”adds Stéphane Corbin, spokesperson for the LGBT+ federation. “We are also marching to encourage all abstainers to go and votehe explains. Our lives depend on their vote.”
It’s not 2002, but something is happening.
LGBTphobic attacks and hate speech have indeed been numerous this year 2024, and the statistics are still alarming. And since the victory of the National Rally in the European elections, nothing has improved. Since June 9, small far-right groups have attacked trans people and a young man, soldiers have attacked gay people in Paris and police officers have made homophobic remarks while claiming their sympathy for the RN.
Just a few months ago, the right and the far right tried to pass a law in the Senate to seriously roll back the rights of trans people and prohibit any transition for minors. The government opposed it at the very last minute and many thought the attempt had failed. “If the left loses the election, this is one of the first laws they will pass. Trans people, along with foreigners, will be the first people targeted.”says Juliette, 23 years old.
Mimosa, 35, from the collective Les Inverti·e·s, believes that it is urgent to “build a united anti-fascist response” and sees in this march “the first stage of this reconstruction”. “We have seen a very significant mobilization over the last three weeks. Dozens and dozens of people have joined our collective and many others have gotten involved”, explains the activist, for whom the time has come to “regain the ground of the street that we lost”.
“I have never seen so many young activists take to the streets, handing out leaflets, demonstrating for the first time”confirms Elyes, 38 years old. “It’s not 2002, but something is happeninghe wants to believe. It remains to be seen whether all this will be enough to defeat the far right. »
