Faced with growing concerns about homosexual freedoms in the United States, Hungary, Italy, and Russia, the Paris Pride Parade drew a large crowd.
The Paris Pride March, or « Gay Pride, » made its voice heard on Saturday against the « reactionary international, » amid controversy over the parallel organization of a rally organized by the far-right collective Eros. Thousands of people participated.
While the colorful floats, inventive makeup, and colorful outfits recall the convivial nature of this annual parade, which set off from the Louvre to Nation in scorching temperatures, recalls the Tropical Carnival, which will take place on Sunday, July 6th in Paris, the organizers were less in the mood for celebration during their initial announcement.
Julia Torlet, president of SOS Homophobie: « We are in a threatening, politically terrible context. For the first time in years, our rights are truly in danger, » she declared into the microphone.
« We must all come together, lesbians, queers, intersex, trans, gay… » she added.
« The danger is here. A reactionary international is arriving before our eyes, in the United States, Hungary, Italy, Russia, » declared a representative of the Aides association, before the colorful procession of rainbow flags, golden balloons, and protest signs began.
Inter-LGBT, the organizing collective comprising some fifty member associations, claimed half a million participants that evening, including many young people.
« It’s a complete success, » Clara Privé, its vice-president, told AFP, attributing this success to the « media coverage » of the march and the fact that « young people are affected by this issue and identify as LGBTQIA+. »
« The context is difficult, as there is a rise in transphobia internationally. They are trying to ban the march in Budapest, a far-right group is trying to demonstrate with us in Paris, » « Vivi » Strobel, spokesperson for the Bi’Cause association, lamented to AFP.
Beyond this year’s themes (migrants, transgender people, health), the Parisian march was overtaken by tensions related to the international context – Donald Trump’s statements in the United States, the ban on Pride in Budapest.
In Hungary, a huge crowd marched in Budapest on Saturday, despite the police ban on the Pride march, as if in defiance of Prime Minister Victor Orban. While no official figures are available, organizers estimated the number of participants at nearly 200,000, with the squares and avenues along the route packed with people.
Pride marches are organized locally by associations throughout France, often in June, in connection with the Stonewall riots, the founding mobilization of the LGBT+ movement, which erupted on the night of June 27-28, 1969, in New York. « Today it is our turn to fight for Stonewall since Donald Trump is banning the freedom won on June 28, 1969, » stated the 50 associations that are part of the organization.
This year’s parade took on a highly political tone, against the « reactionary international. » About fifteen members of the Eros identity collective, whose presence was unwelcome and created tensions, gathered away from the procession, surrounded by law enforcement.
Abroad, communities have united across borders, from Paris to New York to San Francisco.
Pride marches are organized all over the world in connection with the Stonewall riots, the LGBTQIA+ movement that erupted on the night of June 27-28, 1969, in New York City, which gave rise to the community’s freedom and pride in taking to the streets of their country.
While Pride was banned in Budapest under the leadership of Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister, nearly 100,000 people (according to the independent media outlet 444.hu), associations announced 200,000 people joined the procession, which set off from Budapest City Hall at 3 p.m., in a festive atmosphere. Viktor Orbán has ruled out any intervention by law enforcement, keen to avoid images of violent repression – while threatening gay, lesbian, and transgender people with legal consequences after the fact.
In Finland, 100,000 people marched peacefully for LGBTQIA+ rights in the heart of the capital. The entire procession arrived at Kaivopuisto Park at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday. President Alexander Stubb did not participate in the procession himself, but flags flew on Saturday from the facade of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki and his summer residence.
With 350,000 people taking to the streets in Milan, Mayor Giuseppe Sala was also present at the march: « I would say that nothing is certain. That’s why we must continue to fight peacefully, » he explained, referring to the Budapest Gay Pride Parade, in which a delegation from Palazzo Marino is participating.
It’s essential to have such a large turnout here in Milan, which has always been an outpost against discrimination, and it’s clear that there is a strong connection with Budapest. This is a very important signal, because the culture of hate must never triumph. In Italy, too many people turn a blind eye to this model. Yesterday, we heard some atrocious remarks from Vannacci. The right is slowly but surely spreading a message of denial of rights, and the Lombardy Region has once again rejected cronyism. This was declared by Pierfrancesco Majorino, leader of the Lombardy regional PD, on the sidelines of Milan Pride 2025. Asked for his reaction to Roberto Vannacci of the League, who yesterday wondered if we would have sent « those from Pride » to « die at the front, » Majorino replied: « This is fascism 2.0: we are facing a radical shift on the right wing of the League, we must not treat it like a freak show. It says what a good part of the right thinks and what Orban thinks. »
12,500 people enlivened Dublin city center with rainbow colors this Saturday, according to the Irish Independent.
This year’s edition is a bit unusual for Ireland, as the country is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the referendum in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.
As CBS notes, 22,000 people gathered in San Francisco on Friday for the 22nd Transgender March. This Pride Week tradition was also, this year, an act of resistance against Donald Trump’s reactionary transphobic attacks.
In New York, the major Pride March is scheduled for Sunday. But Pride Week is punctuated by other parades: this Saturday was Youth Pride, with a rally for the protection of transgender youth, as detailed on the NYC Pride website. Other festivities have taken place since the beginning of the week.
In Lima, more than 50,000 people gathered for the Pride March, according to the local daily La Républica. Several South American artists participated in the celebrations, including salsa singer Angie Chávez and Andean pop singer Milena Warthon.
In Mexico City, from Thursday evening until Sunday, the historic center of Mexico City will be illuminated by the installation « Global Rainbow, Illumination with Pride » by Puerto Rican artist Ivette Martens, which projects rainbow colors over 10 kilometers. The parade is scheduled to depart at 10 a.m. (6 p.m. Paris time) from the Angel of Independence, a monument in the city center.
In Toronto, the city expects thousands of participants in this year’s march, which will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Park and Rosedale Valley Roads and head south along Yonge Street to Bay Street and Queen Street West. « This is a call to come together and show unwavering solidarity. It is a promise to support one another every day, united in our fight for a future where everyone can live their lives to the fullest, » Pride Toronto stated on its website.
After a nearly five-hour march, the LGBTQIA+ community was welcomed by a large Pride 2025 podium located at Place de la Nation. Throughout the evening, it brought together artists committed to equality, including musicians, DJs, and drag queens. It was also an opportunity to raise public awareness about the fight against discrimination through community speeches and video screenings.
Among the personalities present:
Mademoiselle Kiss (Drag Queen)
Noam Sinseau (Queer Comedian)
Nicky Doll (Drag Queen)
Camion Bip Bip (Electro Music Group)
Kalika (Pop Singer)
Claude-Emmanuelle (DJ Set)
Afro Queer Rising (Cabaret)
A festive and free event, organized by Inter-LGBT, which ended at 9:30 p.m.
©2025 – IMPACT EUROPEAN
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