Love Wins | Parisian Pride 2015

« Love Wins » is the slogan we heard and read all around the world after the US Supreme Court decision to legalize Gay Marriage, on June 26th of 2015. The federal decision was canceling any attempt for any american state to forbid or cancel the right for gay people to get married. The day after, the Gay Pride was celebrated in Paris. I've been covering it since 2012, mainly focusing on portraits of a joyful youth, celebrating love. Through songs, peace messages and colorful accessories. In 2015, as I was accredited by the Inter-LGBT to do photos for them, I followed the opening truck from the very beginning (jardin du Luxembourg) to the end (place de la République). Each year, I am trying to show the usual eccentricity of costumes and the festive atmosphere, but above all the plurality of people walking. Not only transsexuals and disguised young gays are walking - what would be shown most of the time. There’s an amazing plurality of people, coming from everywhere in the country, coming from a wide range of social backgrounds. There’s always a political angle to the march. In 2015, five months after Charlie Hebdo's terrorist attacks, laicity was more present than ever. The struggle for "PMA", that would allow lesbians to make children without going abroad, was also at the core of political messages. I believe the main political dimension of the march, for the majority of "walkers", is still very faithful to the Gay Pride's origins : the point is to celebrate the right to be yourself, the right to love, and the right to exist as you are. To fully live your life without hiding is both the point and the happening. In France, Gay Marriage has been legalized in 2013. On april 23rd passed the "Taubira law", after 136 hours of vivid debates, and many protests. The project of law revealed the existence of traditional groups that most of us French couldn't imagine. It was the first time in French history that some people and political groups were protesting against a law that would not deprive any citizen from any rights. It was definitely a new chapter in french conservatism. But the law did pass. France was the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage. One month before the Gay Pride, in may 2015, 17500 gay marriages have had been celebrated in France. SOUNDTRACK 1. Roads, Portishead 2. Maybe Not, Chan Marshall 3. Rebel Rebel, David Bowie 4. Be Sensational, Jeanne Added 5. I love rock'n roll, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 6. Sweet Dreams, Eurythmics 7. Sebastian, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel 8. Rock on, Jackson & his computer band 9. She Will, Savages 10. Wild Thing, The Troggs