The Pride March will take place on Saturday in downtown Toulouse
After a mobilization and several discussions with the prefecture, the Pride March, absent since 2019 due to a pandemic, is maintained on Saturday, October 9 in the city center of Toulouse. A relaxation for the organizers and participants who remain in their position. The Prefecture remains vigilant.
Patrick is relieved. This faithful will go to the Place du Capitole on Saturday, October 9 to follow La Marche des Fiertés, this parade that is both festive and protesting. “We were a little afraid, he testifies, but the organization was able to reassure the public authorities. And then perhaps also that a certain openness towards an event has emerged that is not not a carnival as some sometimes think “. After a mobilization and bitter discussions, including a final Monday evening with the prefecture of Occitanie, this gathering can therefore take place normally in the hypercentre of Toulouse. There had been a time threatened with displacement back for fear of regular overflows on Saturdays during anti-pass protests. “Scrolling far from the hypercentre would not have made sense, admit Jérémy Perrard, director of Pride Toulouse. First of all in terms of visibility and then because the associative village is located on the Place du Capitole, the starting point”. On this community march where, as every year, between 10,000 and 15,000 participants are expected, around twenty floats will parade, including those from the City of Toulouse, the Departmental and Regional Council, supporting this gathering towards the LGBT + community.
“On another track”
“Dialogue was necessary,” continues Jérémy Perrard. We tried to understand the prefecture on the why of another route but it was not possible. In addition, the small number of demonstrators last Saturday in the hypercentre, around 650, was a calming factor which must have played in our favor. “A march which, linked to the news, has already made the mark. subject of discussions: in 2019 with the yellow vests and in 2018 and 2017 with the risk of attacks: “Each time, we must recall the reasons for this event, its nature and the reasons for its location. This Marche unfortunately still remains a priority in 2021 for the rights and freedoms of the community “.
Prefecture reserves
For its part, the prefecture of Occitanie, explains: “A meeting took place Monday evening between the prefecture and the organizers of the Pride March. The prefecture has made new proposals for an alternative route in the hypercentre. But, the organizers have, after the meeting, their initial route declaration for October 9, despite alerts relating to the safety of the demonstrators.
Practical information :
Saturday, October 9, the Pride March will start from the Place du Capitole at 2.30 p.m., join the trucks on rue Alsace via rue Lafayette then go to bd de Strasbourg, metro Jean-Jaurès, allés François Verdier, rue de Metz to finish square Charles de Gaulle around 6 p.m.