Saturday, a festive and militant time for LGBT rights
Avignon organizes its first official ”pride”, this Saturday September 3rd. After the Gay Circus, then two first Pride marches in 2019 and 2021, the event will be static this year, installed on the Place du Palais des Papes. Co-organized by l’Esclave and Sex Toy, two LGBT clubs in Avignon, with the support of the City, the prefecture and the LGBT Pole (lesbian, gay, bi and transgender) of Vaucluse, the ”pride” will be held from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“We’ll be speaking and holding informative booths for the first hour, before the music and DJs arrive,” says Olive, from The Brace Lobster (LBGT Pole of Vaucluse). The purpose of this event is to promote visibility of the LGBT population, gender and sexual orientation minorities, with a very festive side. I hope that the militant side will not be put aside…”
Avignon, fifth gayest city in France
Alongside the LGBT Pole of Vaucluse will also be present the associations AIDES, Les Elles, Transat, the Gay Randonneurs de Provence… A minute of silence will be observed for the victims of homophobic, lesbophobic crimes… and of HIV.
Initially scheduled for July 30, as in 2021, it was finally postponed to September 3, so that the Place du Palais des Papes could accommodate it. “This is a first step towards the creation of an ‘inter pride’ committee in Avignon, bringing together the National Synergy of Gay Businesses (Sneg) and the inter-LGBT associations. Knowing that Avignon is the fifth most gay city in France, there is a real challenge there”, underlines Rémi-Louis Régis, who organized the Marseille Pride marches from 2006 to 2010, in charge of the organization and communication.