Drag queens on colorful floats roam the woods and fields. Some 1,500 people marched on Saturday, July 29, during the 2nd edition of Rural Pride organized in Chenevelles, in Vienne (86), to make the LGBT community visible in the countryside.
In a field of freshly harvested wheat, a woman held up a sign that read: “Thank you for giving beautiful colors to our lives”, in reference to the rainbow colors, symbol of the LGBT community. This 61-year-old mother had come to support her daughter Raphaëlle and her partner Elsa. Because both suffered from their homosexuality in rural areas: “Looks, violent words”, they report in chorus.
“I come from a traditional family. It hasn’t always been easy. It’s nice to see people who don’t use the excuse of being too old not to understand,” adds Elsa.
“It’s important to be there to say that we accept our homosexuality. There are still plenty of people who have not managed to make this path. We represent them in a certain way, ”said Sébastien Collardey, of the Aides association, which fights against the transmission of HIV and hepatitis.
Standing on a float decorated with multicolored balloons, Cyril Cibert, the mayor of the town, who does not hide his homosexuality from his 450 citizens, said he was “happy” to see so many people marching despite the rain which delayed the festivities .
Marie Cau, first transgender mayor (in 2020), elected in Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (North), had made the trip because “it is important to defend rurality and, at the same time, LGBT issues in the countryside where young people are very isolated”. “We need to develop this visibility,” she stresses.
“Ten million euros to fight against discrimination”
Many elected officials from the department, such as deputy Sacha Houlié (Renaissance) or senator Bruno Belin (Les Républicains) were also part of the party from the end of the morning alongside two members of the government. “The fight against discrimination concerns us all and everywhere. In town as in the countryside, we must be able to be ourselves and be happy to be ourselves, ”said Dominique Faure, minister delegate for rurality, to the press.
For her part, Bérangère Couillard, Minister Delegate in charge of gender equality and the fight against hatred and discrimination, announced, in the morning on France 2, that “the State was going to devote ten million euros to four years to fight against LGBT discrimination throughout the territory, including three million this year for the creation of ten new centers, “notably in Limoges and Marseille. There are 41 in the territory.
“We managed to bring in all the elected officials of the department and two ministers. This proves the interest of such an initiative, ”rejoices the city councilor at the origin of the demonstration. Entertainment and concerts are organized on site until 4 a.m.
