On Martinique, an LGBT association campaigns in the midst of a social crisis

Moïse Manoël-Florisse, is an African-Caribbean online journalist keeping an eye…

Vandalism, high prices and homophobic officials frustrate Kap Caraïbe

Martinique is called the Island of Flowers, but it is currently undergoing an intense social crisis that combines LGBTphobic violence and painful inflation.

Vandals struck the “Lanmou-nou” exhibit, ripping photos off the wall and spraying the exhibition with graffiti including this one, which states, "LGBT pedo-criminal murderers" (Photo courtesy of ING / @Nadia Chonville) — Vandals struck the “Lanmou-nou” exhibit, ripping photos off the wall and spraying the exhibition with graffiti including this one, which states, “LGBT pedo-criminal murderers” (Photo courtesy of ING / @Nadia Chonville)

Martinique is part of France, but consumer prices there are 40 percent higher than in the mother country. Six weeks of protests about the price discrepancy have led to looting and four fatalities.

The high cost of living is also impacting the ability of activists campaigning against homophobia to intervene on the ground, while the cost of living continues to rise amid LGBTphobic vandalism. Among the setbacks: In June, obstructions erected by the town council in Fort-de-France, Martinique’s capital, led to the cancellation of Pride Month events.

For Erasing 76 Crimes, Brice Armien-Boudré, co-president of the LGBT+ association Kap Caraïbe, explains what is happening on his island.

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Brice Armien-Boudré: ‘Between 23 September and the first ten days of October at the Espace Camille Darsières in Fort-de-France, an exhibition was presented called “Lanmou-nou” (which means “our love” in Creole). It featured around ten photos by artists from Martinique, Guadeloupe and the diaspora, celebrating love in all its diversity. This was the first time that photos of affectionate LGBT+ people from the West Indies were displayed in a public space in Martinique.

Sadly, however, on the 3rd of October, the event was marred by unspeakable acts of vandalism against a backdrop of social demands and tensions over the cost of living since 1 September. This is on an island where many people feel that they have been neglected, if not despised, by the authorities in France because they have not been listened to.

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Graffiti state "Our humanity is not negotiable. This is not France." (left) and "Liberty Independence. No to colonization. Go home." — Graffiti at the “Lanmou-nou” exhibit state “Our humanity is not negotiable. This is not France.” (left) and “We want freedom and independence. No to colonization. Go home.”

As a force for progress in Martinique, Kap Caraïbe is keeping abreast of the social mobilizations against the austerity policies targeting the French overseas territories, but does not endorse the acts of violence that have marred Martinique for the past two months, and which have taken their toll on the exhibition designed by artist Adeline Rapon.

During the weeks when the social protest was at its worst, Kap Caraïbe, like the rest of Martinique, had to adjust its activities, postpone or cancel certain trips, and opt for teleworking. Today, there is a semblance of a return to normal, although the protest continues.

For the time being, still reeling from the cancellation of our artistic programme last June and the recent destruction of the ‘Lanmou-nou’ exhibition, we are proceeding with the utmost caution.