"Free to love freely": this was the slogan of the 28th Toulouse pride march this year. Rainbow flags invaded Saturday the center of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), where thousands of people - 11,000 according to a first count of the prefecture, 30,000, according to France 3 Occitanie - participated in the LGBTQI + pride march in a festive atmosphere.
"United so as not to die", "we are not to be cured" or "make love, not gay-re", could be read on some of the signs, often written in English, while many people danced enthusiastically to the rhythm of the music broadcast by the parade floats.
Wonderful day for Pride Toulouse. Thank you#garelgbt #PrideTOULOUSE #LGBT #LGBTIQ pic.twitter.com/4oWDrwZ3lN
"GARE! 🏳️ 🌈 (@GareLGBT) June 9, 2019
"I haven't been a long time since I assumed my lesbianity. This march is an opportunity to be proud of myself," said Anne, 50, who did not wish to give her last name. His partner Marie, 60, says she is a "political activist". "I've been doing the walks for 40 years and will keep doing them until death follows," she says, smiling, adding: "It's my life." Apo, 24, wants "equality for all". "We have to be free in our consensual sexual acts," she said.
I want a multicolored flag in this violent 🏳️ 🌈🫶 reality@bigfloetoli #PrideToulouse pic.twitter.com/eYyP0ecElG
— lu 🌈🎲 fan acc of Marceau (@surlxlune) June 10, 2023
Organized by the collective Pride Toulouse with the support of the town hall, the department of Haute-Garonne and trade unions, such as the CFDT or political, such as EELV. Green MP Christine Arrighi said she was "very interested in the actions carried out by associations, unions that intervene in schools, companies and parenting against discrimination".
Before the pride march this afternoon, I visited the associative village #LGBT in #Toulouse. Very interested in the actions carried out by associations, unions that intervene in schools, companies and parenting against #discriminations. pic.twitter.com/PbO4Fh4I4o
— Christine Arrighi (@ChArrighi) June 10, 2023
For the first time, lawyers from the Toulouse Bar offered free consultations before marching alongside the LGBTQI+ community, according to France 3.
