An exhibition of photographs by LGBT artists installed in front of a cultural center in Fort-de-France was vandalized and covered with homophobic labels, the mayor of the capital of Martinique announced in a statement on Monday, October 7, denouncing an act. “ intolerable ».
“The mayor of the city of Fort-de-France, Didier Laguerre, deplores the destruction of the ‘Lanmou Nou’ exhibition at the gates of the Camille-Darsières space”the city council wrote in a press release published Monday afternoon, denouncing “an act of vandalism” let him judge “just as intolerable” that he “Homophobic and xenophobic posters” pasted on the photographic works exhibited.
“I am disappointed but above all saddened for the artists”photographer Adeline Rapon, organizer of the contest and curator of the exhibition, reacted to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, October 8. “But it motivates me to continue working on this issue in Martinique”he added.
Two complaints filed
Organized by Kap Caraïbe, a local association that defends the rights of homosexual, bisexual and trans people, the exhibition “Lanmou Nou” (“Our love” in Creole) was inaugurated on September 23 at the gates of a park in the center of Fort-de-France, in front of the court of appeal, and was due to end on Monday.
The first exhibition of its kind organized on public roads on the island, it offered nine photographs taken by artists from the LGBT community in Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Antillean diaspora in France.
The works were defaced on October 3, on the sidelines of a demonstration that took place in front of the appeal court. Its voluntary destruction constitutes “an attack” against “efforts to promote tolerance” and reveals “a climate of hate (…) that should have no place in our Martinican society”Kap Caraïbe lamented in a press release.
Two complaints were filed, by the director of the association and the structure’s lawyer.
