Gay Pride Parade in Paris

The Gay Pride Parade was on Saturday, June 27. We researched the route of the parade and decided to stake out a place on the Pont Sully. The parade started down in Carol's neighborhood in Montparnasse. She emailed us early that things were ramping up down there. The parade was scheduled to start at 2:00. We set out of the bridge at 1:30. There was little to no activity when we arrived and slowly over time people started gathering on and around the bridge. Around 2:30 the police blocked off traffic in all directions in preparation of the upcoming parade. It was not until after 4 that the parade arrived at our location. I can only imagine how much this backed up traffic.

Having been to several Gay Pride Parades in NYC, this one was different in several ways. There was little crowd control. Many of the floats were on large rigs and it was up to the marchers to make sure that the crowd stayed far enough away from the floats. This seemed to slow everything down, as people milled in and out of the parade to get pictures. Virtually all of the floats were from assistance organizations for GLBT issues. In NYC many of the bars will create floats in support of the community. The floats in other parades are often very elaborate. The ones here were adequate, but I've seen better ones in Small-bany.

The on lookers took a different approach to the parade as well. The response to the marchers was not very strong. In most American Gay Pride Parades the on lookers provide support with ovation and noise. Typically people clap and shout when a group that they identify with passes by. Only the floats that had blasting music seemed to evoke a response from the attendees of the parade. There was a lucrative business being made by vendors who quickly set up as the parade approached the bridge. We walked with the end of the parade to the Bastille (where is was ending). The crowds got very dense near the end of the parade. I think everyone had the same idea as us. At many of the parades I have attended, there are usually booths set up at the parade destination where vendors and organizations distribute information or sell stuff. Not here. There were a few vendors selling food, but not much else.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the festivities, but it certainly had a different feel than other Gay Pride Parades that I've attended. Perhaps the issues are not nearly as critical here, as GLBT's have fewer rights to fight for.

After the parade we met Carol for dinner. We walked down to Rue Mouffetard and found a great little spot where we had a 16.50 Menu dinner. The food was great and it included entree, plat and dessert.

As Keith and I walked back to our apartment things were still going strong in the Marias. The bars were overflowing beyond capacity. They blocked traffic from the street and people just filled the entire Rue des Archives. Things went on pretty strong through the night.