Martinique: Dancer’s shimmy triggers town council into blocking Pride Month events
Fort-de-France council received complaints about a voguing dancer at an anti-HIV event.
In June, the LGBT+ association Kap Caraïbe in the French Caribbean island of Martinique had to cancel many of the events it planned as part of Pride Month.
The cancellations came after various obstructions from the town council of Fort-de-France, Martinique’s capital. Those officials opposed the Pride Month events after receiving complaints from some of the island’s prudish and homophobic residents.
In response, activists protested that the council violated their freedom of expression by prohibiting events that would pose no risk to public order.
Fort-de-France Town Hall freaked out about Pride Month after receiving complaints from local residents who were shocked by the dancing that took place during a June 22 event organized by the French anti-HIV association AIDES, which had not consulted with local associations about its plans.
Because of residents’ complaints, the Fort-de-France town council decided not to issue permits for the various cultural events in the Pride Month program planned for late June by Kap Caraïbe and local associations allied the organization in the fight against discrimination on the island.
Among the cancellations were a June 27 screening of the documentary “Sortir de l’ombre – Être Homosexuel en Martinique” by Anna Roch and a showing of the short film Zanmi by Martinican director Nadia Charléry. Both works address issues of discrimination and violence faced by LGBT+ people in Martiinique.
Although Kap Caraïbe managed to reschedule the screening for another venue at the last minute, not everyone heard where the documentary would be shown.
Activists argued that it was important to hold the June 28 “LGBTQIA+ Human Rights and Pride March” during this time of rising racism in France, including attacks on black and transgender people.
In the end, after last-minute negotiations, the town of Fort-de-France agreed in principle to host the march, but only if it were moved and shortened.
The organizers refused.
On June 29, plans for a performance space were cancelled under pressure from the neighborhood’s elected representative. She demanded that Kap Caraïbe obtain permission from nearby residents, then insisted on a change of venue, with no remaining time left to make necessary arrangements.
Overall, the officials’ obstructions highlight the extreme difficulty experienced by associations working to combat LGBTphobia in overseas France, because, even when their plans have local support, they must still overcome officials’ homophobia.
