The petition against the gay carnival in Nice has gathered over 17,000 signatures to date. According to Gaël Nofri and Célia Georges, opposition municipal councilors who initiated the petition, this figure reflects the rejection of this “Queernaval.”
“This is an attempt at community-based appropriation,” claims Gaël Nofri, municipal councilor. Launched on January 8th, it has gathered 17,000 signatures to date.
For the municipal councilor, “Lou Queernaval” or the gay carnival in Nice, is not a beneficial initiative. “We want a traditional and universal carnival. We are facing a denaturation of the event,” explains Gaël Nofri. Célia Georges, municipal councilor, does not understand how Mayor Christian Estrosi can allow Lou Queernaval to take place.
“This event will again be full of clichés towards the homosexual community. It’s just going to be a series of caricatures and stereotypes,” worries the young woman.
For his part, Gaël Nofri notes, “The Nice carnival is a significant economic and tourist asset for Nice. This event can be harmful to the city. Proof of this is the 17,000 petition signatories from all over France. This is not the carnival we want.”
First Gay Carnival in France
The gay carnival already exists in Rio and Sydney. This is a first in France.
Municipal councilor Gaël Nofri is concerned about the “sexual connotation the floats might have.” Meanwhile, the organizers of the Queernaval are very clear about the event’s announcement: the carnival is open to everyone.
Célia Georges concludes, “Today, we want to go to the carnival without having to ask questions. Do we want to show a communitized or unified society?” An interesting question that nevertheless raises another problem. Does launching such a petition truly reflect the idea of a united France?
