Gay Pride around the world: rainbow planet

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Every year in June, the Gay Pride brings together millions of protesters for the rights of gays and lesbians on the pavement of the big cities of the planet. Under the flags in the colors of the rainbow, these festive parades take place in an irresistible carnival atmosphere. The opportunity to party, to the sound of dance or techno music. And to remember, from New York to Sydney, via Paris or Johannesburg, that there is still a lot to do for equal rights between homosexuals and straight people.

A festive and political march
It has almost become a tradition, like the May 1st and July 14 parades! But in a less cheesy and much more festive genre. Each year, at the end of June, more than 700,000 people beat the Parisian pavement to defend the gay, lesbian and transsexual cause. Paname takes on the appearance of Rio de Janeiro and the quays of the Seine host a carnival parade. Gay Pride, renamed “Marche des Priertés” , is now one of the biggest street parties in France, the meeting place for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals, but also gay friendly straight guys who see it as an (excellent ) opportunity to party and support their gay friends.

Because, beyond the festive aspect, Gay Pride is a political event that has existed since the 1970s. Its watchword: freedom, fraternity and equality between all sexual orientations. A program which is still far from being accomplished today.

The PACS, voted by the plural left in 1999, has certainly made a difference. However, equality between gay and straight couples is still pending, particularly with regard to adoption and the right of residence for foreign spouses. And we must not forget homophobic violence, discrimination in businesses, harassment of neighbors in certain neighborhoods, etc.

Gay Pride, it should be remembered, would not exist without homophobia and the discrimination suffered by homosexuals in France and around the world. This demonstration also has its origins in a muscular descent carried out by the New York police, on the night of June 27 to 28, 1969, in the gay bar Stonewall Inn, an establishment located on Christopher Street. The clients rebelled and the altercations with the cops lasted three days.

A year later, New York gays organize a march to commemorate the ” Stonewall events “. And this is how Gay Pride was born, whose success continues to grow over the years around the world.

In France
On June 30, from Montparnasse to Bastille, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators will party around floats (actually trucks) broadcasting techno, dance music or disco. A bit likes in Brazilian carnivals. A cheerful and colorful crowd, displaying their sexual tendencies, will parade under the rainbow flag: drag queens, transvestites, leather fans, sado-maso, adonis in swimsuits, but also gentlemen and ladies everyone. In short, all the diversity of the gay planet.

Will also be parade, associations fighting for the rights of gays or against AIDS, unions and political parties of all stripes, even those who were fiercely opposed to the PACS. And yes, it is also trendy – and electorally paying – to be gay, if only one day a year.

Gay Pride follows a theme / slogan each year; in France, while the new president François Hollande has promised to open marriage and adoption to same-sex spouses, the watchword is: “In 2012, equality no longer waits”.

Gay Pride is not just a Parisian phenomenon. Processions have multiplied in the provinces. Here are the next meetings:

– June 16: Biarritz – Lyon – Strasbourg – Toulouse
– June 23: Caen
– July 7: Le Mans – Marseille

In Europe and worldwide
If you have the soul of a cheerful backpacker, know that you can parade under the rainbow flag on the five continents. New York Gay Pride has spread around the world, even in places that are not frankly gay friendly.

Small review of the most important parades in the world:

– Berlin (June 16 to 23): The Pride Festival, for a weekend, includes concerts, films, parties, cabarets … The Christopher Street Day Berlin parade (Saturday 23 June 2010) brings together hundreds of thousands of participants in the center of Berlin, during a big party for equal rights between homosexuals and straight people.

– New York (June 16 to 24): During the New York Pride, New York gay people celebrate their culture and their differences with parties and activities open to all gay friendly people in Manhattan. The Sunday parade on 5th Avenue is simply breath-taking. A million people (or more) have fun during a sexy and colorful parade!

– London (June 23 to July 8): This is the city where you have to be to celebrate Gay Pride in 2012. Before the traditional Gay Pride parade on July 7 – which now attracts a million people -, Pride London organizes around 80 events and an art festival to celebrate “gay pride”.
But, in addition to hosting the Summer Olympic Games, London will be the host city of the Euro Pride, an event similar to Gay Pride but at a pan-European level, and World Pride , an event that meets every five years for a global fight against homophobia.

– Madrid (June 29 to July 1): The Chueca district celebrates for a week, with many street activities open to all, to celebrate Madrid’s Gay Pride. The highlight of the festivities: the Orgullo Gay, a gigantic parade, bringing together almost a million and a half people on July 1 in the streets of Madrid!

– Amsterdam (July 28 to August 5): The Amsterdam Prideis one of the biggest gay friendly fiestas in Europe. The highlight of the festival is the parade on the canals, which are then taken over by more than 70 barges parading in a lively atmosphere, to the sounds of house and techno. On the side-lines of the parade are organized sports and cultural activities (competitions, street parties on the Rembrandtplein and on the Regulierdwarsstraat, film festival). Remember to book your flights and hotels in advance, it is one of the weekends that attracts the most people in Europe.

– San Francisco (July 29): Thanks to the large gay community on Castro Street, the San Francisco Pride, which drains hundreds of thousands of revelers, is one of the major events of the Californian metropolis, and not only for gays. Parties everywhere in Castro, big parade, delirious floats, conviviality and extravagance are de rigueur on dance and techno sounds.

– Montreal (July 30 to August 5) : Since 1993, the annual celebration of gay and lesbian pride has given rise to a week of outdoor activities and shows: modern dance, film screenings, rock and jazz concerts , electronic and Latin music, drag queens shows and DJ performances. The highlight of Divers / Citéis the Pride parade, which should be particularly followed this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the event with DJ David Morales, from Montreal, as guest of honor. Nearly a million people find themselves in downtown Montreal, all sexual trends combined.

– Johannesburg (October 6): The Joburg Pride, the largest Gay Pride in Africa, in addition to a festive parade of tens of thousands of people, offers a week-long festival with numerous festivals, attractions and events.

– Bangkok (November): The Bangkok Prideor Silom Soi 4 Festival is renowned for its particularly extravagant parade which brings together thousands of people in Silom, one of the hottest gay districts in Asia.

– Sydney (February 10 to March 3, 2013): in Sydney, Gay Pride is called “Mardi Gras”. Attracting more than a million people each year, it is one of the biggest gay and lesbian parties in the world. On the program, almost a month of festivities, with a hundred events of all kinds: fair, exhibitions, sports competitions, music, literature and the essential techno raves.

And see you next June for these two great gay prides that have just taken place:

– São Paulo: The”Parada”, the largest Gay Pride in the world took place last weekend in São Paulo: more than 3 million gays, lesbians and “sympathizers” (as we say here) beat the paulista pavement in a carnival parade.

– Tel Aviv: The Gay Pride of Tel Aviv, which took place on June 8, can completely compete with that of Berlin or New York. “We don’t build anything on rejection or indifference” is the slogan of Gay Pride, which takes up a quote from David Ben-Gurion, founder of the State of Israel. Over 100,000 participants take to the streets with music every year to celebrate respect, tolerance and freedom.

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