As the LGBTQIA+ Pride march takes place in Paris this Saturday, journalist Élodie Potente reflects in her book Fiertés des champs. Habiter, résister et aimer loin des métropoles on the existence of Pride events in rural areas. Published on Friday, her book focuses on the experiences of queer individuals and rural residents who face double marginalization. Potente, an independent journalist and lesbian based in the Pyrénées-Orientales, highlights that Pride marches are not confined to the capital. Events like the Queers des champs festival, held in Bram (Aude), on September 26 and 27, demonstrate that Pride celebrations also take place in rural parts of France. These events allow participants to challenge the stigma of being labeled both "country bumpkin" and "queer." Rural areas are often overlooked in the media, with their stories, cultures, and histories remaining largely invisible. Emma Conquet, a colleague of Potente, uses the term "urban gaze" to describe the biased perception urban dwellers have of the countryside. This bias leads to a lack of awareness about rural queer history, such as the existence of lesbian communities managing land in the 1970s. Coming out in rural areas can be especially challenging, as individuals must seek out representations of themselves that are rarely found in mainstream media. Words like "ploucs" and "pederasts" are stigmas often heard in rural areas, reinforcing the sense of being "the other." These terms, along with "queer," which was once an insult meaning "strange" or "outside the norm," have been reclaimed by queer communities. While words like "pederast" and "slut" are still used as insults, rural and queer communities choose to reclaim these terms as a form of pride. For many, these events are not just celebrations but also spaces of political resistance and empowerment, offering a sense of belonging and visibility. Rural Pride marches are often more militant than their urban counterparts, providing a space for queer individuals to feel seen and supported. Being in nature offers a form of freedom, allowing people to escape societal roles and expectations. The poetess Léa Rivière wrote that "I am not trans in the forest because no one looks at me," highlighting the sense of refuge rural areas can provide. Potente is part of a collective called La Claque, which reclaims hiking as a space for queer individuals and allies to connect with nature and each other. Living in rural areas presents unique challenges, including limited mobility and access to public services. For example, Elsa, a transgender person, has traveled over ten thousand kilometers between her village in Aveyron and Toulouse for medical care. Despite these difficulties, rural areas are not uniformly conservative or reactionary. Some regions, like the Drôme valley, are vibrant with cultural and associative life, while others, like the Comminges in Haute-Garonne, face significant challenges. These communities often work to maintain their local culture and resist appropriation by political groups like the National Rally. Rural queer individuals often use common language and shared experiences to build connections with their neighbors. Gabriel, a transgender person featured in Potente's book, begins conversations about garden maintenance before discussing his identity, highlighting the importance of finding common ground. Artists like Laurie, who creates screen prints in Occitan, use regional languages to express their identities and connect with their communities. These efforts reflect the resilience and creativity of rural queer people, who continue to survive, live, and innovate despite the challenges they face.