Paris Mayor criticizes anti-LGBT+ backlash

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has spoken out against criticism from right-wing experts and religious figures over the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The ceremony, which included a drag queen performance in homage to the Greek god Dionysus, has been the target of accusations of blasphemy and being “satanic”, especially after a misinterpretation of a reference to Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper”.

Hidalgo, in an interview with Le Monde, vehemently rejected the criticism, saying that Paris is a queer city, a city of freedom and a haven for the LGBTQIA+ community. She praised the opening ceremony as a celebration of diversity and a moment of great pride for the French capital. “The message of the far right has been crushed by these Games and the opening ceremony. Something incredibly positive is happening,” the mayor said.

Critics included figures such as former US President Donald Trump and influencer Andrew Tate, who referred to the event as a “satanic drag show” and declared a boycott of the Games.

However, Hidalgo reiterated that the negative reaction did not diminish the success of the ceremony and the Olympic Games in Paris, which continued to show the city as an example of coexistence and diversity.

By Ezatamentchy