Tens of thousands of people gathered in Paris on Saturday for the annual Pride March, a celebration of LGBT+ rights and a show of solidarity against rising far-right influence. Participants carried rainbow flags and wore flower necklaces, marching through the city in a vibrant display of unity. The event, originally planned for late June but delayed due to a heatwave, took place in a politically charged atmosphere, reflecting the current French presidential election. The march started from Place d'Italie and wound its way to Place de la Bastille, where concerts were scheduled to follow. The procession featured loud music from trucks, drag queens performing on stage, and participants holding signs with messages such as "These fascists annoy me" and "Fuck RN," referencing far-right political parties. Alexandre Schon, co-president of Inter-LGBT, a coalition of around fifty organizations, spoke before the march began. He emphasized the need to transform anger into political victory, highlighting the increasing hate speech targeting trans people, same-sex individuals, and sex workers. "It's the day of love, we need it now, right?" said Lucie Dia, a participant who joined with her mother to promote tolerance and solidarity. She stressed the importance of embracing diversity and showing love regardless of differences in color, sexuality, or religion. Maxence Rolland, a 20-year-old attending his first Pride event, participated for the friendly atmosphere and curiosity. Aurélie Féru, a heterosexual woman supporting the cause, said it was important to be visible and show solidarity with the LGBT+ community. Célestin Raby, another participant, believed such events help shift public opinion in the right direction, despite challenges from political forces that seek to limit sexual freedom and progressive movements. Anaïs Perrin-Prevelle, president of OUTrans, an organization supporting trans individuals, emphasized the need for visibility, noting that many LGBT+ people face persecution globally. She also pointed out that far-right movements in several European countries are targeting trans people, often under the guise of protecting traditional gender roles. Several left-wing political figures attended the march, including Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, deputy Sophia Chikirou, and European deputy Manon Aubry, all from the LFI party. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of LFI, was also present. Pride marches are held annually across France, often in June, to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal event in the LGBT+ rights movement. Last year’s Paris Pride event drew an estimated 500,000 people according to organizers, though police reported fewer than 100,000 attendees.