Lou Queernaval, France’s first gay carnival, will make Nice sparkle this Friday, February 27! As part of the official program of the popular Nice Carnival, Lou Queernaval will start at 9 PM at Place Massena.
Free and open to all, Lou Queernaval is part of Nice’s history and aims to reconnect with great popular traditions! This weekend, Nice will show that it welcomes all forms of love and that the party brings together all differences!
Some personalities have volunteered to sponsor this event. Thanks to them, Lou Queernaval is born under the best star!
Mado la Niçoise (Noëlle Perna): Is there any need to introduce Mado la Niçoise again? A true Niçoise, Mado makes us burst out laughing when she talks about her “gay as a lark” son. Mado is not our mom, but this year, she’s our godmother. And we are quite proud of it!
Armando Santos: Of Portuguese and Lebanese descent, Armando Santos has lived in France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. Elected Mr. France Gay in 2013, Armando has become one of the most prominent male models of the moment, even gracing the cover of the famous gay magazine Têtu in January 2015. He will lead the parade on February 27 and knows how to turn heads and stir hearts!
Lisa Angell: Born in Italy but raised in Nice, Lisa Angell is passionate about singing and chose to make it her career, performing in singing tours and piano bars on the Côte d’Azur. In Paris, she caught the attention of Didier Barbelivien and Patrick Sébastien. On television, she performs duets with the biggest stars and has released three albums in parallel. Selected to represent our country in the Eurovision contest next April, Lisa will proudly fly the colors of France…and Nice!
Samy Camps: This young tenor is an up-and-coming artist in the world of classical music. At 29, this charming and talented Nice local with an angelic face was nominated in the “Lyric Artist Revelation” category at the 2015 Classical Music Awards. He will take part in an amazing musical act during the Lou Queernaval parade.
Proposed by the LGBTQI community of Nice, Lou Queernaval is an event that is meant to be open to all.
Join dancers, “queer creatures,” fabulous icons, and colorful artists for France’s first gay carnival.
The city of Nice has long held the “gay-friendly” label. This exceptional parade is expected to bring together gay, lesbian, bi, trans, intersex, and of course, heterosexual individuals.
A program of parties and activities throughout the city and in the LGBTQI establishments of Nice is announced.
A weekend of festivities is even planned to extend the carnival celebrations.
However, this event is not to everyone’s liking in the political circles of Nice. Particularly Marie-Christine Arnautu (FN), who quickly reacted…
Lou Queernaval: the waltz of communitarianism by Christian Estrosi
“It will be a first, as proudly announced by deputy mayor Christian Estrosi. He himself admits, in the press file, to being the originator of “the integration of LGBT associations into the Nice Carnival.” The mayor of Nice […] is therefore knowledgeable about communitarianism.
Beyond the stark contrast between the mayor’s syrupy speech and the suggestive announcements of the press file, the Nice branch of the National Front denounces the use of public funds to propagate LGBT propaganda, especially with the launch of a training plan for municipal agents to adapt to LGBT situations (sic!) or the costly promotion of the LGBT label “Nice Irisée Naturellement”.
Nice taxpayers should not fund the near-harassment of Nice traders to encourage them to adopt this communitarian label…”
For Gaël Nofri, municipal councilor (EI): “Despite nearly 20,000 petition signatories against the communitarianization of the Nice Carnival, the Mayor decided to go ahead with this event.
Finally, we condemn the communitarian policy of the City of Nice, a policy that is incompatible in our view with the values of a society where distinctions between citizens should not be based on their sexual orientations.”
One certainly cannot please everyone, so let the party begin!
- The first gay carnival in France in the 5th most gay-friendly city in the country (according to Têtu’s 2014 ranking)!
Over 90 partners! (associations, institutions, media, shops, businesses…)
Over 30 parties and events #LouqueerWeekend in Nice’s LGBT and friendly establishments!
Over 400 volunteers mobilized for the parade!
