French LGBTQ rights marchers call for immediate liberation of last colonies

Radical Pride: Afroqueers and Kanaks demand decolonisation of overseas France

Demands for both sexual and political liberation in former French colonies were a theme of this year’s Radical Pride, which was held June 16 in Paris.

The event is a radical alternative to the city’s more traditional Pride march, scheduled for June 29.

This year, the French overseas territories, and in particular Kanaky (the indigenous name for New Caledonia), were in the spotlight as indigenous Kanak anti-colonial activists from the Kanaky Solidarity Collective marched and spoke during the protest. Many Kanak activists are seeking independence for New Caledonia (Kanaky), which is a semi-autonomous French overseas territory northeast of Australia.

The issue came to the forefront when residents of Kanaky rioted last month in response to a French proposal to expand the voting rights of immigrants to Kanaky.

On June 16, Kanak activists marched side by side with women and non-binary Afro-Queer people, shouting “Kanaky vivra Kanaky vaincra” (Kanaky will live, Kanaky will win) and “Kanaky indépendante” (Kanaky is independent), and “the days of the colonies in all the overseas territories are over”.

Also present were representatives of the Afro-Caribbean group Les Diivines.LGBTQIA+ and a women’s procession of West Indian percussionists.

Erasing 76 Crimes interviewed Pierrette, the founder of Les Diivines.LGBTQIA+ and Megan, an activist with Collectif Solidarité Kanaky who spoke at the conclusion of the march to declare that political and sexual emancipation go hand in hand.

2024 will not be a year like any other

Erasing 76 Crimes: What significance does this event have for you this year?

Pierrette: Radical Pride is not just another march, but a Pride march organised by visible minorities within the LGBT+ community in the Paris region.

This year our slogan is for self-determination and the liberation of identities and peoples, in the context of the wars, particularly in Gaza. In fact, we wanted a strong slogan so that we could be heard and so that the Afro-Queer community could mobilise in favour of peace in the world and the independence of all the Overseas Territories.

In the current political context, we also want to denounce the current political situation, where our enemies on the far right have a chance of coming to power [in France’s elections on June 30 and July 7] and forming the next government. More than ever, we’re on the alert and we won’t let anything happen to us. We are not afraid.

Being here with those who stayed over there

Erasing 76 Crimes: How does it feel to be here at the Radical Pride?

Megan from Collectif Solidarité Kanaky: It’s an honour to have been invited by Pierrette from Diivines.LGBTQIA+ because in Kanaky – New Caledonia, there is no LGBT+ association that represents the historical and social Kanak identity of our community in Nouméa.

And more generally, the Melanesian and Oceanian communities suffer from a real lack of visibility in the political and social arena in mainland France, which leads to a certain lack of awareness of what is really happening on the ground.

As an ally, I’m delighted to be able to add my voice to that of the fight for the emancipation of LGBT+ Afro-Queers, in a French environment that is open to listening to the grievances and demands for decolonisation of the indigenous Kanak people, where our voice is considered without contempt.

Today, however, the hour is grave and it is time to put up a united front by all means to fight against the rise of the extreme right, both as a people and as an oppressed individual.

Given that the upheaval in the electoral calendar coincides with Pride Month and the organisation of this Radical Pride, it gives us an extra channel of expression, which we’re taking to the streets. We need to unite against the Rassemblement National so that it doesn’t [take power].

A difficult daily life in New Caledonia

In May, violence erupted in New Caledonia over a French plan to extend voting rights in provincial elections in New Caledonia to people who moved there 10 years ago or more (about 24,000 people from the total population of 270,000).  Indigenous Kanak leaders feared that change would dilute their vote, ending their hopes for eventually winning independence from France, RFI reported.  When Macron called new elections, parliamentary votes on that proposal were suspended.

Erasing 76 Crimes: On Saturday, we learned that the previous day two more people had been shot in the head and neck in riots in the suburbs of Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia. Has the pressure died down or is the situation about to flare up again?

Megan: It’s not a riot but a civil war, and contrary to what some of the media are saying, the tension hasn’t eased at all and there are already almost 50 victims, a long way from the official count (8 dead) given to the press by the High Commissioner, who represents the interests of the State in Kanaky – New Caledonia.

Although Emmanuel Macron has announced the suspension of the [plan to expand voting rights] he still follows a logic of colonisation by settlers, so he has not given up his intentions. Hence the continuing mobilisation in New Caledonia.

And we are fortunate to be able to count on politicised young Kanak, Wallisian and Futunian people from the disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Nouméa who continue to maintain roadblocks to create a balance of power and show their determination. As long as Macron doesn’t change course, we won’t give up.

People my age and younger — be they Oceanian or Asian — have had enough of being economically marginalised and now they just want to take their place and they understand that that means the path to sovereignty.

And what about tomorrow?

Erasing 76 Crimes: What do you expect will happen if the ring wing is victorious on July 7 and Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister of France?

Megan: That would be a time of immense uncertainty. We ,know that the [right-wing] Front National, now Rassemblement National, has historically been marked by pro-colonial, racist and homophobic stances.

I’m not in a position to tell you what will happen, but we can certainly fear that the worst is yet to come if the far right takes the reins of government in this country.

As we await the verdict of the polls on July 7, my thoughts and condolences go out to the bereaved families of the victims in Kanaky,  New Caledonia.

Olé héti (“Thank you” in Kanak).