On Sunday, August 7, in Sept-Îles, the first LGBTQ+ pride demonstration in the
history of the city took place. We spoke to two people (Rachel and an anonymousperson) who participated. ---- Emma Goldman Collective Blog: Hi! Can you tell uswhat the event was about? ---- Rachel: The event was about showcasing gender andsexual orientation diversity to raise awareness about different genders andsexual orientations. We all joined in the parking lot of the IGA and then walkedon the sidewalks of Boulevard Laure displaying our signs, our diversity anddisclosing phrases of encouragement. ---- Anonymous: This march was very colorfuland lively thanks to each individual, it was very beautiful to see. We walkedalong the road, made noise and waved our signs for about an hour, yet with evermore energy. And, at the end, we were treated to a good, well-deserved raspberrycocktail!BCEG: Did the turnout live up to expectations?Anonymous: There could have been nearly a hundred people. A very nice surprisefor the organizers who are sure to do it again next year!Rachel: There were people of all ages (adults, teenagers, grandparents,children), but there were more teenagers.Anonymous: Young people were the most involved, like my high school friends andothers. I noticed a few adults and a few young aboriginals. It was very welldiversified. There were people with very colorful clothes and others in neutral,so we can simply support all these people with our presence and our heart.BCEG: It's very inspiring! How was the demonstration organized and how was thedecision to hold a pride demonstration in Sept-Îles made?Rachel: It was organized by the Center d'intervention Le Rond-Point (CIRP). Ithink the organization made the decision to do so, because these days youngpeople or adults are being discriminated against or suffer from homophobia andtransphobia because of their differences. Most are also afraid to come out toothers, because they are afraid of being rejected by them. So they and theywithdraw into themselves. I also think that the organization made this protest toshow that having a different gender or a different orientation is not a problemor a disease. Our attraction to another person and feeling in the wrong body isnot something we can control.BCEG: How does LGBTQ+phobia manifest itself in Sept-Îles?Rachel: These are people who struggle or are unable to accept and understandLGBTQ+ people. They will often use religion to say that it is not "normal",because God did not want that. Most of the time, too, people are like thisbecause they have heard or have "learned" from members of their immediate familyor those around them that homosexuality is not good. Personally, I thinkLGBTQ+phobia manifests itself more often in public places and in high schools.Anonymous: I could rather see this kind of thing at school, with young people whocome to disgust "weird people". They and they do not realize that it hurts andsay, at the beginning, that it is to be taken in the second degree. On the otherhand, LGBTQ+ people end up having hatred towards them and them. It's a bit likethe "n-word". To say that we see this in elementary school is horrible! It canalso come from the parents, unfortunately. I noticed when talking to my friendsfrom the LGBTQ+ community that their parents might not completely agree, feeluncomfortable, or even regret. I'm just an ally, which means I support differenceand people in the LGBTQ+ community, I'm heterosexual. I had a twinge in my heartwhen my parents told me that I had no place in this, but I feel proud to be therefor my friends and others. So I say that these people deserve our support, sothat they can flourish.BCEG: Many young people from regional LGBTQ+ communities leave for big citieslike Montreal. What do you think could be done to change this situation?Rachel: We could see more diversity and encourage people who are afraid of otherpeople's eyes to come forward. We could also show people who don't know muchabout LGBTQ+ what it is and tell them the real things.BCEG: Thank you for taking the time to share this beautiful moment with us!by Emma Goldman Collectivehttp://ucl-saguenay.blogspot.com/2022/08/sept-iles-premiere-manifestation-de-la.html_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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