Pride march in Mayenne: “It’s more courageous to march in Laval than in a big city”

It was under a gray sky that the parade 700 people during the pride march this Saturday, June 29 in Laval. Despite the gloomy weather, the rainbow colors of the LGBT+ flag took over the city center. Before the march started at 2 p.m. from Boston Square, several drag performers dressed in nuns’ habits spoke. They are part of the LGBT+ movement “The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” of the Convent of Paris and fight against homophobia and exclusion. “My dear native Mayenne, if you forgive me for leaving, I forgive you for my childhood“, one of them shouts into the microphone. “Sister Cybèle” is now a Parisian, but she remembers having lack of representations being younger. “I grew up in the north of Mayenne, in a small village called Javron-les-Chapelles. Growing up LGBT there means you don’t feel normal. You feel alone. I prayed a lot in church to become straight. Luckily it didn’t work.“, she smiles.

Normalize love

Today, she believes that it is easier for young people in rural areas to feel listened to and understood, particularly thanks to social networks. But for José, the representation of the LGBT+ community in rural departments remains marginal. “I think people are afraid of what they don’t see on a recurring basis. When in fact, if we see people of the same sex holding hands or kissing every day, we normalize it.“, adding that organizing a pride march in Laval is therefore of capital importance for raise awareness of the LGBT+ community. A walk which also surprised Bruno, 62 years old. The sixty-year-old had until then only participated in prides in large cities. “I found it moving to see this gay pride in Laval. Especially since it is much more courageous to march here than in a big city where we are more incognito.“, he confides before joining the procession. In 2022, the first edition of the pride march brought together nearly 2,000 people.