That Saturday morning, the Pride March painted the seafront in a rainbow of colors. Departing from Tarahoi, the procession numbered only 70 people but for the first time included high-ranking political leaders among its ranks. The presence of the country’s vice president and the mayor of Papeete represents a real “advance” for Karel Luciani, who hopes each year to see more Polynesians mobilize for LGBT rights. The president of Cousins Cousines nevertheless hails the oceanic openness of this march, on the eve of the Pacific Conference on Human Rights.
The Pride March marked the apex of the fourth edition of Tahiti Pride Week, a few hours before its closing evening. For a week, activities organized by LGBT associations of the fenua have punctuated Hepetoma ‘Anuanua, the Week of Pride, and serve as an introduction to the Pacific Conference on Human Rights (PHRC), which will take place from October 19 to 21 at the Presidency.
Initiated by Vice-President Minarii Galenon, also in charge of the LGBT portfolio, the PHRC will bring together a small dozen Pacific countries and territories. Their delegations arrived just in time to march this Saturday morning. After gathering in front of the vice-presidency, the 70-strong parade retraced the seafront to reach Vaiete Square at around 10:40, where a Zumba performance awaited them. With their rainbow flags and umbrellas, they were greeted by car horns, under the gaze of the tourists. Some even joined in for a few moments.
“Long live inclusive Papeete, long live inclusive Polynesia!”
But the seafront cruise-ship crowds were not the only allies to join the march. Hidden beneath the rainbow canopy of the procession, one could spot the Vice-President, Minarii Galenon, and the Mayor of Papeete, Rémy Brillant, walking a few steps behind the standard-bearer and president of Cousins Cousines, Karel Luciani. A gesture particularly meaningful for him: The presence of the Vice-President and the Mayor of Papeete to march with us, it’s the first time, it’s progress. The leader of the march does not hide his enthusiasm: Long live inclusive Papeete, long live inclusive Polynesia!
C’est également la première fois en quatre éditions que la Marche des Fiertés rassemble autant de participants. C’est notamment grâce à l’entrain des délégations du Pacifique, venues pour participer à la PHRC, et qui ont répondu présentes depuis « les Fidji, les Kiribati, les îles Salomon, même du Vanuatu et de Papouasie », se réjouit Karel Luciani, en tête de la marche. Maria, originaire des Fidji, entame un chant devant le quai des croisiéristes, on entend « Les droits humains », « oui » répondent en chœur les participants. « Stop à l’homophobie », et à nouveau la foule acquiesce. Bien qu’il « remercie du fond du cœur la délégation des Océaniens » pour leur participation et leur animation, le président de Cousins Cousines regrette que si peu de Polynésiens « aient pas eu le courage ou fait l’effort de venir marcher ».
“This is not a cause accepted by everyone”
The Polynesians might catch up and join the parade next year. Not however certain that the vice-president will march again; she “first wants to see the consequences of the PHRC.” She had already stated on Radio1 that the fight for LGBT rights “is a cause that is not accepted by everyone.” She does not close the door to a future participation in Tahiti Pride Week, but instead commits to bringing “a delegation from Polynesia to a forthcoming conference that will surely be held on a Pacific island.”
Thus, Minarii Galenon hopes that “Polynesian LGBT people also go to see what happens elsewhere, bringing their own specifics, their demands and their needs.” Locally, she has discussed the potential creation of a welcome center for the community, requested by associations for several years, and projects to promote LGBT people that should come to light after the PHRC’s conclusions.
