The GLT Rainbow Coordination of Milan, which brings together the major lesbian, gay and transgender organizations in Milan, after accepting the proposal launched by the national structures of Arcilesbica and Arcigay, to organize a large national demonstration in Milan characterized by the demand for a law that recognizes homosexual couples, has drawn up the political manifesto of LGBT Pride Milan '05 under the banner of an unequivocal slogan: PACS! Clear agreements, lasting friendships...

Pride in Milan

The manifesto, while not forgetting all the other requests coming from the Italian LGBT Movement, proposes to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, a great demonstration of unit To obtain recognition of one of the many rights denied to us, the first step on the road to achieving full Italian citizenship.

We therefore ask everyone: individuals, groups, associations, movements, unions and parties, to to sign the manifesto and participate in large numbers under our rainbow flags at the big national demonstration next June 4th.

Entries can be sent
by email to: [email protected],
by fax to 02.54122226
by mail to Arcobaleno – via Bezzecca, 3 – 20135 Milano MI.

for the GLT Milan Rainbow Coordination
The spokespersons of PrideMilan'05
Francesca Polo, Daniele Bocchetti, Paolo Ferigo

PRIDEMILANO '05
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
Milan – June 4, 2005

PACS! Clear agreements, lasting friendships...

The Pa.CS – "Civil Solidarity Pact" – is a legal institution that certifies the relationship between two adults of the same or different sex. It legally defines the spouses' shared life: it establishes the obligation of mutual moral and material support, and establishes their rights and duties towards each other and society.

In Europe, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary have passed laws giving same-sex (and heterosexual) couples the ability to legalize their unions outside of marriage.

The 2005 National Pride in Milan was called upon by a strong request: in our country the law on PACS must be approved.

The approval of the PACS Law is a united request that the LGBT movement addresses to representatives of Italian institutions. This unifying character has an important and cohesive value for the entire movement.

This request arises from the belief—and necessity—that through the legal institution of the PACS, millions of Italian citizens become fully-fledged subjects of law. Furthermore, the PACS also has a value linked to social dignity of people. This value stems from the concept that Italian institutions continue to hold of couples: a couple must have legal recognition, otherwise—in effect—it doesn't exist. We believe it is right that couples who desire formal recognition—whatever the reason for this desire, whether sentimental or legal—can have it.

Politicians can no longer pretend not to understand. They must understand that, as voters, we have the power to influence the Italian political landscape.
The LGBT movement is no longer willing to give its contribution – and its vote – to parties or groups that do not intend to satisfy requests such as that for the PACS. In recent years, we have strengthened our visibility efforts, and through widespread information and education, LGBT citizens now understand that their voter support can be decisive for the success or failure of a candidate or political party. We have now acquired the awareness that we have the same institutional weight as other citizens, and our awareness must also be reflected at the legislative level. Institutions must understand this, and they must also understand that, in addition to our votes, all the votes of those close to us also count.

We have no favors to ask: we are not asking for any privilege based on our sexual orientation or gender identity, but for an end to discrimination. It must be clear that the lack of a legal institution that also protects same-sex couples is discrimination.

To the deployment of center-left We demand a clear commitment consistent with the words spoken over the years and meaningful action to counter the ineffective ones implemented to date. We will not grant exemptions to those who fail to make a concrete commitment to ensuring that our citizenship is equal to that of heterosexual people—not only in terms of duties, but also of rights. We greatly appreciate the verbal support of the center-left coalition, a support that has also catalyzed much of our energy, but now we want actions to follow these words.

To the deployment of center-right, which we know to be far from our demands due to its cultural and ideological background, we demand full respect for the constitutional provision that establishes the secular nature of the state. This commitment must translate into a guarantee of freedom of choice for every citizen. We believe this guarantee can also be achieved through the establishment of the PACS (Contract for Partnerships), a pact that offers the opportunity—for those who so desire—to give legal status to a relationship, whether it is based on love or a mutual desire for solidarity.

Obviously, the LGBT movement's platform of demands is complex and multifaceted. It cannot, therefore, be reduced to a single demand. We have worked and will continue to work in other cultural, social, and political spheres as well.

Placing the fight for PACS at the center of the 2005 National Pride Parade doesn't mean we should forget the work we do every day in our support groups, telephone counseling services, schools, the workplace, culture, and community groups. The decision to champion PACS during this Pride Parade stems from the desire to send a strong message. The time for puns and good intentions is over; the Italian LGBT community demands concrete results..

We therefore invite lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgenders and heterosexual people who want to live in a secular state that does not discriminate, that recognises equal dignity to every emotional relationship and that does not allow the reactionary fundamentalisms of the Vatican hierarchies to dictate the political agenda of Parliament, to participate in the National Pride of Milan on June 4, 2005.

The 2005 National Pride Parade began with a very specific and widely shared request, which became the underlying theme of an event characterized by a strong sense of liberation and freedom. This freedom also encompasses lightheartedness and joy, expressing a pride that comes not from who we are, as LGBT people, but from what we have succeeded in becoming, despite everything.

Milan, February 11, 2005
Rainbow Coordination Milan