“They will not even have remained hanging twenty-four hours”, laments Marilou Caballero, co-founder offeminist exhibition. During the night from Monday to Tuesday, nine of its twenty-four panels which tell the story of LGBTQIA + struggles in France, installed on the railings of Parc Champvert in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon, were torn down and thrown in the trash.
“They had been attached on the occasion of the World Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and were to remain there for two weeks,” continues the co-organizer. The exhibition was aimed at the general public to raise awareness of the diversity of backgrounds of LGBTQIA+ people. This act of violence proves the insecurity that the community makes daily and the need to continue to fight against this hatred. »
“Unwavering” support from the town hall of the 5th arrondissement
Marilou Caballero points out that the town hall of the 5th arrondissement “immediately” provided “its unwavering support” and even went there to “see the damage”. “Despite the vandalism of part of the exhibition, the municipality asked us to leave the display”, specifies the co-founder. “LGBTQI+ struggles in France” will therefore remain visible in the neighborhood until the end of the month.
“This type of violence could have happened anywhere, recalls Marilou Caballero. Last year, when we presented these signs in the 2nd arrondissement, they were spitting. For her, “if the exhibition arouses so much hatred, it shows how important it is”.