Kissing despite insults and violence. In Toulouse, two young women exchanged a lesbian kiss on the sidelines of La Manif pour Tous, this Saturday, October 11, 2020. Journalist Martin Lombach immortalized the scene. He tells us.
This Saturday, October 11, in several large cities of France, La Manif pour Tous marched against the bioethics bill and the extension of the PMA to lesbian couples and single women. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux saw hundreds of demonstrators marching in the streets, surrounded by large police devices. In Toulouse, the march took place under tension, but was also the setting for an incredible lesbian kiss. Martin Lombach, a 16-year-old high school student and a journalist in training, photographed the two young women and then shared the snapshot on Twitter, where it has already been liked more than 8,000 times.
Asked by aufeminin, Martin Lombach said: “I cover Toulouse politics and demonstrations for Radio Occitanie. The rally on Saturday struck me with the tense, even violent, atmosphere. " An hour before La Manif pour Tous was set in motion, a counter-demonstration was organized by LGBTQI + associations, notably Act-Up, and took a different course. But, unofficially this time, other activists followed LMPT to express their disapproval. "I witnessed exchanges of insults, threats, explains Martin Lombach. Five men with their faces hidden by black cloths ensured the LMPT order service. Two passers-by, one on a bicycle, the other on foot, exclaimed 'Shame!' crossing the procession, and were immediately chased by these guys, without the police or elected officials flinching ". Robert Ménard, mayor Rassemblement National de Béziers, was notably at the head of the procession. Martin Lombach himself was the victim of violence, since a protester pushed him against a window to prevent him from filming the procession.
It is in this extremely tense atmosphere that two young women interrupted the procession, exchanging a magnificent kiss. "The procession was parading, when I saw them get up from the bench where they were sitting. They walked towards us and started kissing. Protesters then stood in front of them screaming, waving their flags… It was even more impressive in real life than in my photo. But the two women continued. Their kiss lasted at least a minute, maybe more… Time was suspended, it was a incredible moment. "
The procession ended up leaving, the journalist only having time to get the two women to sign an authorization to be able to distribute the photo. "I don't know their name or their age, if they are in a relationship or just friends… I regret not having taken their contact details, but I was carried away by the action and the emotion. If they read me and they want, they can contact me. " The message got through.