Tens of thousands of people take to streets of Paris to march for Pride
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, who leaded the march through the capital, highlighted some of the threats that the LGBTQ+ community is still facing, saying, "LGBTQIA+ venues are still being threatened, attacked, discriminated against, and subjected to violence and intimidation."
Tens of thousands of individuals converged upon the streets of Paris for the Paris Pride event, advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community amid a rise in far-right influence. Alexandre Schon, co-president of Inter-LGBT, the organizers of the march, stated that with the presidential election just a few months away, they were urging LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies to unite for a future built on solidarity.
Schon expressed concern for the future of LGBTQ+ rights, warning that they might become the next targets, citing similar attacks on LGBT+ rights in countries like the United States and Senegal.
The parade commenced at Place d'Italie in the southern part of Paris and concluded at Place de la Bastille in the eastern sector, where a concert awaited. Approximately fifty associations participated in the event. Schon highlighted the potential threat to LGBTQ+ rights, referencing the dangers faced by these rights in other nations.
Several left-wing political figures joined the march, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed (LFI), and Green MP Sandrine Rousseau. Mélenchon later shared his thoughts on X, emphasizing that sexual orientation or gender identity are not choices, and that as long as individuals fail to comprehend this, they are not fully realized human beings.
Rights, he argued, must follow. Grégoire further emphasized the ongoing threats faced by the LGBTQ+ community, stating that LGBTQIA+ venues continue to be threatened, attacked, discriminated against, subjected to violence and intimidation. He also called for the protection of LGBTQ+ spaces and the enhancement of resources for associations.
As Paris Pride had typically occurred in June, the event was moved due to France's recent heatwave. However, its original date holds significance as it coincides with the Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the LGBT+ movement that occurred in New York on the night of June 27-28, 1969. Last year, an estimated 500,000 people took part in the march, according to organizers, while police reported attendance numbers of fewer than 100,000.
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