associations require two LGBT artists at the heart of a controversy
Shanna Banana and Brandy Snap are entertainers and drag queens. Based in Toulouse, the performers face strong criticism fueled by far-right sympathizers. In response, collectives and associations provide them with unwavering support.
“LGBTQI+ associations and collectives and allies attacked Shanna Banana and Brandy Snap, Toulouse drag artists, who face despicable attacks from the far right, in public space and on social networks”. Thus begins the statement sent by the League of Human Rights of Toulouse Friday, January 27.
“We support them and we support their educational and artistic approach to raising awareness of living well together and the acceptance of all differences with all audiences, including the youngest, through the reading of adapted works.“, can we still read. Among the dozens of associations that signed this press release, AIDES Occitanie, the association of gay and lesbian parents, PRIDE Toulouse and Jules & Julies.
It all started with the announcement of a reading workshop for children aged 3 to 6 at the José Cabanis media library in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). Initially scheduled for February 18, this workshop was to be led by Shanna Banan and Brandy Snap, two drag queen artists from Toulouse, as part of the month dedicated to queer people.
An event very quickly decried by the far-right identity group, Furie française. Speaking of “political propaganda paid for by your taxes”these activists are for the most part close to the current of the former group Génération identitaire, dissolved by court order last spring.
In response to these attacks, the League of Human Rights of Toulouse called for a block. “Faced with the extreme right, the withdrawal, the hateful amalgams, there must be no compromise. It is about our democracy, our Republic!“, indicates the organization in its press release of January 27.
Determined to ban a workshop that wants to be inclusive, the detractors were supported by supporters of the Manif pour tous. An online petition “against swipe readings for young children” was submitted by them as early as January 20 asking for a cancellation. Said petition would have mentioned more than 4,000 signatures, but one in the meantime has been deleted. Insulting publications aimed at the two artists quickly went viral on social networks.
Jean-Luc Moudenc tries to make believe that he has changed since the Manif pour tous in which he participated in 2012.
Municipal opposition in a press release
The uproar is such that the town hall of Toulouse took the decision, Tuesday, January 24, to make changes to the initial workshop, “for the sake of appeasement”, in the words of the municipality. Only a major public is now welcome at the event, still maintained to this day. “If Jean-Luc Moudenc seeks to make believe that he has changed since the Manif pour tous in which he participated in 2012, he reveals by this act the support for intolerance, far from the humanist ideas of our city.“, lambasted the municipal opposition in response in a press release.
The Toulouse Human Rights League also wanted to challenge the manager of the pink city following this controversy. In particular, it asks the town hall to “does not exercise any censorship on the content, setting up and organization of any event, of any form, in places, establishments, public spaces” that she manages.