Out in the World: LGBTQ+ Developments from Europe and Australia

France

In a series of events that sparked widespread reaction across France, clips and memes from the song "Nobody Mourns the Wicked" of the popular musical "Wicked" went viral following the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen. Le Pen, who passed away at 96 on January 7, was the founder of the far-right National Rally party and father to its current leader, Marine Le Pen.

Jean-Marie Le Pen became a prominent political figure in the 1970s and 80s, known for his controversial statements and policies against immigrants, Muslims, and LGBTQ+ communities. He ran for the presidency of France five times and reached the second round of the 2002 election, ultimately losing in a significant landslide.

In 2018, Le Pen was found guilty on three counts of inciting hate against homosexuals and was fined for his remarks. His offenses included claims linking homosexuality and pedophilia in a 2016 blog post, derogatory comments equating gays in his party to an excess of salt in soup, and opposing the public grieving by a gay police officer's husband at a state funeral. Additionally, in the 1980s, he advocated for the forced isolation of individuals with HIV.

Le Pen's controversial rhetoric extended beyond LGBTQ+ issues; he repeatedly downplayed the Holocaust, calling it a "detail" of history and denying mass murders occurred. These statements led to multiple fines over the years. His daughter Marine took charge of the National Rally in 2011, and by 2015, Le Pen was expelled from the party for his persistent Holocaust denial.

In a spontaneous display of celebration, hundreds gathered at Paris's Place de la République to mark Le Pen's passing. Waving Pride flags and tossing confetti, the crowd celebrated his departure. The hashtag "NoOneMournsTheWicked" trended widely on French social media platform X. Coincidentally, a similar trend appeared in the United States three days later upon the death of 1980s anti-LGBTQ+ figure Anita Bryant.

Australia

Melbourne's iconic Pride festival, Midsumma, finds itself at the center of controversy this week. Transgender Victoria, a prominent advocacy group, announced its decision to withdraw from this year's parade, citing concerns about the involvement of the police. Meanwhile, a group of masked vandals targeted businesses supporting the festival by defacing them with posters and spray paint.

On January 8, businesses located along the parade route faced vandalism overnight, with posters and graffiti calling for a boycott of Midsumma. The vandals were captured on video but remain unidentified. The messages on the posters criticized the commercialization of Pride events and the inclusion of police in the festival.

One such poster stated, "We will not be satisfied with a commercialized gay identity, that denies the intrinsic links between queer struggle and challenging power." Another declared, "Queer liberation not rainbow capitalism," listing Midsumma's sponsors like Amazon, Woolworth’s, AGL, and L’Oreal. Additional posters emphasized, "No Pride on stolen land." Fortunately, most affected businesses managed to clean up the damage before reopening on Thursday.

On Sunday, Transgender Victoria took to Instagram to announce its suspension of participation, highlighting issues with the Victoria Police. "A recent community forum and survey conducted by TGV have confirmed a deep and pervasive discontent among TGD [trans and gender diverse] people regarding their interactions with and treatment by Victoria Police," stated their post. TGV decided to withhold participation for a year, contingent on accountability and measurable changes from the police.

Despite withdrawing from the parade, TGV intends to engage in other Midsumma activities and plans to host a Trans Pride Picnic as an alternative celebration. The previous year's Pride march also saw conflict, as protesters clashed with police, throwing pink paint at officers who had agreed to participate out of uniform and unarmed.

The Midsumma Festival is scheduled from January 19 to February 9 in Melbourne. The Pride March will take place on February 2, followed by Victoria’s Pride Street Party on February 9.

This article highlights the ongoing tensions and celebrations within LGBTQ+ communities in France and Australia, as individuals continue to challenge historical figures and institutions while advocating for broader acceptance and equality.