The event initially scheduled for July 23rd finally took place on Saturday, at St Jean Baptiste square, for safety reasons.
Gay flag flying high, music blaring, dance floor in the spotlight. “This is what a gay atmosphere is all about,” explains Patrick, who came to party.
Everyone is happy, and there’s a sense of freedom seen on people’s faces. A feeling of truly being themselves.
However, despite the big smiles on their faces, the organizers are a bit disappointed as they celebrate. “Today we are together but angry because we couldn’t march together,” explains the president of the AGLAE association.
Indeed, for safety reasons, the city hall refused to allow this year’s Pink Parade to march like in previous years, for safety reasons. The event remained confined within the enclosure of St Jean Baptiste square.
A square filled with people, but it can only accommodate 3,000 people, whereas normally the “fiesta” is shared by 10 to 15,000 people.
That’s no reason to spoil the party. “We must not fall into psychosis, and show that we are not afraid, that we continue to live, without letting events defeat us,” says David, one of the organizers.
A tragedy etched in everyone’s memory, but quickly forgotten when the music resumes.
