Paris Pride March: Thousands of people participated in the annual Pride march in Paris on Saturday, as LGBT rights groups voiced concerns about the potential rise of discrimination if a far-right government comes to power following France’s ongoing election.
The country is heading to the polls on Sunday for the first round of a parliamentary election, with opinion polls indicating that the far-right National Rally (RN) could secure significant power. The second round of the election is set for July 7.
In response to increasing threats, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin issued a letter on Friday to police and local authorities, calling for heightened security at LGBT events, including Paris Pride.
Darmanin highlighted a surge in discriminatory acts and growing “political and community antagonism” that could target such events.
Rights group Inter-LGBT, along with other advocacy organizations, urged the public to join Saturday’s march in large numbers to stand against far-right ideologies and to protect LGBTQIA+ rights.
Despite repeated requests for comment by Reuters, the National Rally did not immediately respond.
The party, known for its socially conservative and anti-immigrant stance, has previously disavowed connections to violent far-right groups and has historically voted against legislation that expands rights for LGBTQIA+ individuals, including measures in the European Parliament.
Paris Pride March:
“Hate is on the rise. There are messages on social media calling on people to interfere with the march,” Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier told Reuters earlier this week.
According to Leperlier, since the RN’s substantial gains in the June 9 European elections, there has been a noticeable increase in hate speech and violent acts. In light of these threats, the Paris march organizers have doubled the number of security volunteers.
At the Paris event, drag queen Simone de Boulevard expressed deep concerns about the community’s future under a potential far-right government.
“We are afraid, afraid for our access to healthcare, for our everyday safety,” de Boulevard stated. “Homophobic, transphobic violence is intolerable.”
The LGBTQIA+ acronym encompasses a broad spectrum of sexual and gender identities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual individuals. The “+” symbol represents other diverse identities not explicitly listed.
As France faces a critical juncture in its political landscape, the Pride march in Paris serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community in the face of rising intolerance.