They survived only a few hours. Four pedestrian crossings in rainbow colors in Tours (Indre-et-Loire) were degraded Thursday evening, while they had just been installed the same day as part of the month of pride. The multicolored stripes that framed the pedestrian crossings were covered with a thick coat of white paint to hide them.
According to the local daily La Nouvelle République, CCTV cameras found that the act had been carried out by three people around 23:30 p.m. The respondents wore surgical masks to conceal their faces.
A degradation "shameful and distressing", condemns the town hall
The municipality immediately condemned a "malicious and homophobic act" and announced that it would file a complaint. The mayor EELV of Tours, Emmanuel Denis speaks of a degradation "shameful and distressing". Municipal agents were quickly mobilized Friday morning to clean up the facilities.
But this action reminds "how much the fight for equality remains necessary," insists the municipality of Touraine in a statement, while the annual local "Pride March" is to be held on June 17.
The City of Tours condemns the degradation of pedestrian crossings painted in the colors of the rainbow.
She has cleaned up these facilities and will file a complaint. pic.twitter.com/nWnT5R51NL
— City of Tours (@villedetours) June 9, 2023
A degradation that occurs in a context where the LGBT community of Tours is regularly targeted: the LGBT center of the city had been targeted on May 22 by an "explosive device", after having suffered several degradations in recent months.
A 17-year-old man was arrested on 31 May in connection with the case. During the search of his parents' home, police discovered a bottle of hydrochloric acid and a diagram detailing the manufacture of an explosive device.
A national plan presented Tuesday in Tours
The Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Isabelle Rome, reacted Friday afternoon on Twitter and speaks of a "new intolerable act of anti-LGBT + hatred".
" READ ALSO "When will all this hatred stop?": in Tours, the bunkerized life of the LGBTI center
She assures the Touraine center of her support, she must in particular go to meet the leaders of the association Tuesday, specifying that she would present "the main axes of the next national plan" to fight against anti-LGBT acts.
