In a significant announcement on June 28, 2025, Paris will host a major Pride March. This Sunday, the organization SOS Homophobie called for a strong mobilization in support of the Pride event, while also voicing its support for the Inter-LGBT, the event’s organizer that is facing backlash following the release of the event poster earlier this week. 20 Minutes explores the surrounding controversy.
What Does the Poster Represent?
The visual for the 2025 Pride March in Paris features various characters, including a veiled woman holding a sign that reads “Against the Reactionary International.” Another figure carries a pink triangle , historically a symbol worn by gay prisoners in Nazi camps, which has been reclaimed in a spirit of stigma reversal since the 1980s by the AIDS activist group, Act Up. Additionally, another silhouette showcases pins, one of which represents the Palestinian flag , along with a bag in red, green, and white stating “Free Prides.” The poster also depicts a man in black and white who appears to be knocked out, with a Celtic cross on his neck—a symbol appropriated by neo-fascist movements.
What Are the Critical and Hostile Reactions?
Numerous LGBTQ+ organizations, as well as politicians from the right and far-right, have criticized this poster. The Jewish LGBTQ group Beit Haverim condemned what they described as “ thoughtless communication choices ” that could incite “overflows or acts of hostility.” The association FLAG!, consisting of police officers and justice officials within the LGBTQ community, expressed its complete disassociation from the poster.
Prominent political figures have also voiced their criticisms. The head of Ile-de-France, Valérie Pécresse , even suggested that the poster encourages “ violence with its depiction of a corpse. ” Pécresse urged for the removal of the Ile-de-France logo and disclosed that the planned regional subsidy would not be provided. Similarly, an aide to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the poster as “an incitement to violence.” Furthermore, the vice-president of the National Rally, Sébastien Chenu , pointed out the inherent contradictions of such imagery, highlighting the killings of LGBTQ individuals in places like Palestine.
The public transportation authority, RATP , has also withdrawn its partnership with Inter-LGBT, citing that the poster was published without proper authorization and content validation from their side.
How Did the Inter-LGBT Respond?
In a statement, the Inter-LGBT lamented the “ gross misunderstandings ” surrounding the poster’s imagery. The president, Alexandre Schon , explained that the chosen colors for the bag (red, green, and white) correspond to flags from Hungary and Bulgaria , where Pride events are currently under threat of prohibition.
Regarding the pins, including the one featuring the Palestinian flag, the Inter-LGBT affirmed that they represent the unity of struggles which the organization cherishes. The intention behind the artwork was to portray queer individuals united against a reactionary international that persecutes, silences, and restricts the rights of LGBTQ+ persons to exist, love, and self-determine.
Who Has Expressed Support for the Inter-LGBT?
In a response on X, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel , an aide to the Mayor of Paris, expressed that “ Paris does not endorse this poster, but stands firmly in support of the organizing associations of the Parisian March at a time when LGBTQIA+ attacks are escalating everywhere.” He assured that Paris is willing to facilitate better coordination with partners who may feel alarmed by the poster, aiming to smooth misunderstandings and enhance future collaborations.
Numerous coalitions and associations have also rallied in support of the Inter-LGBT, emphasizing the necessity to stand united against these attacks. For instance, the collective inverti.e.s asserted that “it is imperative to stand together against such attacks.”
SOS Homophobie echoed this sentiment in their latest statement. They condemned what they termed the “ tsunami of hate orchestrated by the right and far-right against the Paris March. ” They highlighted the harassment and threats faced by Inter-LGBT volunteers as intolerable. “These budget cuts represent a danger,” declared the association, noting that these funds primarily aimed to ensure the security of the March.
The organization further stated that withdrawing support amidst such critical times for the LGBTQ+ community is not just irresponsible but damaging. They concluded: “It is precisely when LGBTI individuals need support the most that they are deprived of it. These budget cuts do not prevent the March but reflect political intimidation and shameful opportunism.”