(Washington) The WorldPride opens this Saturday in Washington in a gloomy social and political climate, even disturbing for cheerful, trans and non -binary people, who are not really in the heart this year.
The Trump administration multiplies attacks against this community and has even tested a military ship which bore the name of a cheerful icon – and hero of the Navy during the Korean War -, Harvey Milk, first elected openly homosexual in California.
Photo Astrid Riecken, Archives The Washington Post
Pride capital parade in the streets of Washington in June 2024
However, this Saturday afternoon, hundreds of thousands of people will walk in the streets of Washington to underline the WorldPride and, at the same time, the 50e Anniversary of the Pride capital. The parade will start from the lively district of Logan Circle to borrow the Pennsylvania avenue, then pass in front of the White House … where no one recognizes the event of pride, global or not.
“At present, in the United States, we are witnessing a coordinated effort to make us disappear and take off our dignity,” denounced the Democratic representative of Delaware Sarah McBride, Thursday evening, during an event organized by the Christopher Street Project.
Photo Luc Boulanger, the press
Delaware representative Sarah McBride
The first transgender woman elected to the congress, Sarah McBride is a political show and the symbol of trans fight in the United States. According to the representative, “the extreme right uses trans people as an exchange currency” to consolidate their power. “Their objective is to reshape America in their image and enrich their well -noid friends,” she emphasizes. As a trans person, I refuse to serve as a currency. »»
To end fear
There is a lot of emotion behind the scenes of the pride capital in Washington. People are tired of living in fear. Friday morning, as part of the Conference for Human Rights, the Swedish writer Jonas Gardell (Never wipes tears without gloves) made a speech felt and committed. A real call for resistance to his American comrades.
Photo Luc Boulanger, the press
Swedish writer Jonas Gardell, on the stage of the National Theater Friday
“Please don’t be like the deer blinded by the headlights of a car. Do not be paralyzed by fear. Resist hatred and intimidation. It’s essential to go out and fight. We have the right to exist! “, He launched on the National Theater scene, the fist in the air.
Right after him, the former Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris, addressed to the public in a short video message. “No one should fight alone. We are all together in this fight for equality and social progress, ”said Mr.me Harris, before wishing a good pride checked in the assembly.
Photo Luc Boulanger, the press
In a video, ex-vice-president Kamala Harris wished a good pride in the assembly.
A story of courage
This pride capital is very different from previous years, according to the organizers. “5, 10 or 15 years ago, it was believed that the change was” inevitable, “said Sarah McBride. We all advanced in the great march of equality. Now, today, the social climate is so hostile that many of us lose hope … but we must not despair. Our American history is a story of courage, from Stonewall riots to the marriage between same -sex spouses, including the fight against AIDS and that for civil rights. »»
Every day when I crowd the Congress floor, I remember that this is where the 13e and 14e Amendments of the Constitution (for the abolition of slavery) were adopted … We are not right to despair, when we look at the fights of previous generations. Progress is never inevitable, but always possible.
Sarah McBride
In addition to the parade on Saturday, a rally “against hatred” will be held on Sunday. Participants will take an emblematic journey, walking from Lincoln Memorial to Capitole, in the footsteps of the Movement for Civil Rights, in 1964. Their theme: The Fabric of Freedom (“The fabric of freedom”).
Photo Luc Boulanger, the press
View of an external exhibition on the occasion of the WorldPride in the streets of Washington
“While the LGBTQ+ community faces growing challenges in the United States and around the world, because of those who seek to divide instead of uniting, it is the fabric From our community-through the richness of our cultures, the diversity of our identities and our origins-which will guide us to a better future, ”we can read on the site of the Pride Capital.
Photo Martin Chamberland, La Presse Archives
Simon Gamache, Managing Director of Montreal Pride
Boycotting calls
For security reasons and to protest against anti-LGBTQ+policies, most foreign organizations will not go to Washington for the parade. This is the case of Montreal pride. Managing Director Simon Gamache confirmed to The press Having made this decision in solidarity with the members of the community who could have problems on the American border. “We don’t want to take risks,” he says.
Previously, the leaders of equal Canada had announced their intention not to go there. “To protect our transgender and non-binary staff who would be confronted with questionable treatment at the borders, and show solidarity with our colleagues from around the world who experience the same fears at entry into the United States,” they explained.
The African Human Rights Coalition has called to boycott WorldPride, invoking the reduction of protections for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers by the Trump administration, and its growing hostility towards trans and non -binary people. But the organizers of the WorldPride stress that participation in the event is even more important: “The boycott of the WorldPride sends the bad message,” said Ryan Bos, director of Capital Pride Alliance, to the militant magazine The Advocate. “We have to mobilize, show resilience and resistance to stay visible and heard. »»
The WorldPride in short
The WorldPride festival is a gathering for LGBTQ+ pride which has been held for 25 years. It is organized by host cities, under the license of the interpret organization, of which Montreal is proud.
The first Worldpride took place in Rome, in 2000; The last in Sydney, Australia, in 2023.
Since its creation, the title of WorldPride has been awarded to ten cities, including London (2012); Toronto (2014), Madrid (2017) and New York, on the occasion of the 50e Anniversary of Stonewall’s riots in 2019. Next year, the celebrations will be held in Amsterdam.
