Thursday, June 18, 2009

Pride France 2009

I've never been to a pride event in France. But, like in the US, June is the month for events all over the nation, and June 27 is the parade day in Paris for those of you who are in town. I'm sure it will be very entertaining!

The old flags dusted off for a photo.

I used to fly both of these flags from our house in San Francisco. I put the rainbow flag out during the month of June and the French flag out during July. We don't fly them any more since moving to France. People here seem to be much less into these kinds of symbols, at least out in the countryside. And you normally only see the national flag on government buildings and in parades. Oh, and during international sporting events, of course.

13 comments:

  1. Good to see you letting your freak flags fly ;p

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  2. The French are much more subtle about flying flags, aren't they? In the US, every used car dealership has a 30ft by 60ft American flag flying over it. Waaayy too nationalistic for my taste.

    BettyAnn
    p.s. I think most people in my little bible belt town wouldn't know what a rainbow flag is.

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  3. So true about those huge flags at the car dealerships! Still, I keep my American flag flying outside most of the time, I think that since 9/11 it's become more prevalent.

    Love the rainbow flag!

    Quinn

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  4. HEY! This looks just like the pic on MY blog *snicker* Love it!

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  5. i love your flags! I'm going to secretly fly my Obama american flag on the 4th of July. I got it at the Inauguration. DH who was an Eagle scout says my flag is a desecration, but I'm going to put it on our mantel with pride.

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  6. That's me in the box above.

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  7. Argh, why is it always the day after my birthday?? I remember being so hungover last year and wishing all the banging, yelling & techno music would just stop. But then I went out and joined them for a while, they all just looked like they were having so much fun. ;)

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  8. Dumb me! but I didn't even know about the rainbow flag. Now I get it.

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  9. I would be curious to hear what is the tolerance and acceptance of gay people in France. If you have a fancy, please write about it someday.

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  10. evol, so "freak" is Australian for pretty or tasteful, right?

    bettyann, yes, I think the French are much more secure in their national identity than Americans.

    quinn, I remember thinking that all the flags on cars got to be a bit much in 2001.

    sean, hmmmm, I wonder why? :)

    evelyn, I knew it was you! Fly your Obama flag with pride!

    ksam, just consider it an extension of your birthday party!

    nadege, there you go!

    urspo, good idea. The short answer is that French culture generally considers people's private lives to be private. Which explains why the current president had no problems with his seperation/reconciliation during the campaign and his subsequent divorce and remarriage during his first year. There are always exceptions, though.

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  11. Walt
    I live near Brighton in England and the rainbow flag is everywhere, all year round. It's a great place.
    Veronica

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  12. Walt

    This year for some reason our War Memorial has smallish French flags flying on each corner. This is the first year I can remember seeing this except on the memorial days.

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  13. I guess I'm pretty passionate about our flag - my daughter-in- law recently gifted me with one that flew over her base in Iraq.

    Quinn

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Tell me what you think!