Date:          Mon, 2 Oct 1995 01:11:26 +0100
From: "Salvatore Mele" <mele@unive.it>

On Saturday, 30th September, about 5,000 Italian lesbians, gays and
bisexuals hit the streets in Verona to protest against the fascist
and right-wing catholic city council, which in July voted against
accepting an EU resolution in favour of equal rights for all de
facto couples, including same-sex couples.  Fascist and Northern
League aldermen, in refusing to accept the resolultion, called for
the "castration of homosexuals" (Bertozzo, Northern League) and,
while they were at it, put in a good word for women's rights as well
("Women who spread their legs shouldn't ask for an abortion
afterwards", Bottoli, Alleanza Nazionale ["post"-fascist]).

The march was mainly a gay rights issue, but, considering the nature 
of the debate in the city council, embraced all civil rights groups.  
Established gay-rights groups such as Arcigay-Arcilesbica, Movimento 
gay e lesbico di Verona, were joined by Le Donne in nero (the Italian 
chapter of Women in Black), Socialismo rivoluzionario, Rifondazione 
comunista, the Greens, the post-Communist PDS, as well as Sinistra 
giovanile (a left-wing youth movement, with members on many of the 
local city councils, who have all pledged to promote equal rights for 
same-sex couples).  One of the speakers at the post-parade meet in 
Piazza Bra, Niki Vendola (Rifondazione comunista), has just presented 
a parliamentary bill that would guarantee same-sex couples the same 
rights as heterosexual couples.

The march threatened to turn sour when a group of catholic
integralists handed out leaflets against the "revolting vice [of
homosexuality], with its contagious and devastating diseases". 
Throughout the march, groups of young fascists threw pebbles and
coins at the marchers in the hopes of provoking brawls.  To the
credit of everyone present nobody gave in to the temptation of
giving them what they deserved: the response was normally a
resounding chorus of chants and slogans.

The Saturday-afternoon Verona shoppers expressed disgust,
curiosity and surprise.  Some (unfortunately very few) actually 
joined the march.  But most Veronese, considering the city's rather 
right-wing, if not openly fascist traditions, were mainly piqued at the 
vast assortment of red flags unfurling along with a myriad of queer 
symbols and slogans.


SOME CHOICE SLOGANS (translation on request):

On banner:
"Noi il CULO lo diamo per AMORE
Voi il CULO lo date per una POLTRONA"

"Woytila! Woytila!
Non far l'intollerante!
Dentro la chiesa
Le froce sono tante!"

Cheers,

Sal

________________________________________________________________________________
"For the first 25 years of my life I lived as a criminal, and the next 25 were 
spent as a second-class citizen, deprived of equality and human rights [...] 
These restrictions subtly deprived me of my freedom.  It seemed unthinkable it 
could be any other way, so we all accepted this."
                                                                              DJ
email: mele@unive.it
________________________________________________________________________________