Organized by the Azurรฉenne Gay and Lesbian Expression Association (AGLAE) in partnership with the LGBT Center Cรดte d’Azur, the 10th Pink Parade gathered thousands of people (3,000 according to the police, 8,000 according to the organizers) in the streets of Nice on Saturday, July 13, 2013.
Whether they are homosexual, bisexual, transvestite, or simply supporters, all gathered on Saturday at 4 p.m. in front of the Tรชte Carrรฉe before starting the LGBT Visibility March. Their demands? “Go all the way to equality,” raise awareness, and be recognized. “We’re proud to be lesbians! We want to show people that it’s not a disease and that love is for everyone,” explains Caroline, who just celebrated her thirtieth birthday.
As every year, the Pink Parade emphasized tolerance, solidarity, sharing, and diversity. For the 10th edition of this intergenerational event, joy and good spirit were once again on the agenda. The banner fixed on the bus at the head of the procession, bearing the inscription “homos-heteros, let’s be happy together,” fully represented the desire to create a festive atmosphere. “For a long time, celebration has always been a means of claiming,” testifies Benoรฎt Arnulf, head of activities for the Les Ouvreurs association and artistic director of the Festival In&Out.
A parade with rainbow colors
Multicolored balloons and flags, Hawaiian necklaces, outrageous costumes, high heels, feathers, glitter, wigs or extravagant makeup attracted the interest of tourists, locals, and merchants.
Carried by music, activists arrived at HI Beach at 7 p.m. for the traditional “Pink Drink” animated by DJ Lady Power. The “Pink Dinner” took place around 10 p.m. at Place du Pin, before the High Club opened its doors to close the evening with the famous “Pink Party.”
Marriage for all, an exclusively legislative achievement?
Despite the adoption of marriage for all, most demonstrators believe that the fight must persist, especially concerning the fight against discrimination. Victim of a homophobic attack in February 2012, Stรฉphane asserts that “laws make sense when individuals integrate them.” During the parade, an opponent justified these words by performing a Nazi salute amidst the jeers of the crowd. According to Benoรฎt Arnulf, “it is about continuing to evolve mentalities by making people understand that we are people just like them.”
Many associations denouncing exclusion and discrimination were also present, such as SOS homophobie, Contact, and Amnesty International. Some of them are demanding access to Medically Assisted Procreation (PMA).
Fighting AIDS which is on the rise again in the PACA region
Following the worrying increase of people affected by HIV in the Alpes-Maritimes, prevention is still on the agenda. Throughout the march, AIDES offered rapid and anonymous testing. Jean-Pierre Paringaux, project manager at Sida Info Service (SIS), estimates that 6,000 condoms were distributed by his association.
Despite its playful aspect, the Pink Parade remains an opportunity for various organizations to assert their views and ensure information.
Next march: Europride in Marseille, on July 20, 2013.
