Naples Pride 2024, an exceptional edition in terms of participation and political, artistic, and cultural content. A vile attempt at protest of the social centers (and of Potere al Popolo) instrumental and violent.
Exactly one week after the procession of Naples Pride 2024 It's time to take stock. Therefore, we, the organizing associations—Antinoo Arcigay Napoli, ALFI le Maree, Associazione Trans Napoli, Pride Vesuvio, and Coordinamento Campania Rainbow—have decided to make a statement to share our thoughts on Naples Pride 2024 and the second edition of Pride Park.
It was undoubtedly an exceptional Pride, in terms of quantity and participation, with hundreds of thousands of people interacting on Saturday 29th and in the days of Pride Park with the Pride parade and the events that preceded it, but also exceptional for its political, artistic and cultural quality and intensity. The second edition of the Pride Park, the village of rights, at the Real Albergo dei Poveri, promoted together with the Municipality of Naples, took place over 8 days (from 21 to 28 June) of big Political, social, and cultural intensity. All the main points outlined in the political platform for the 18th edition of Naples Pride were addressed, from parenthood to equal marriage, from the anti-discrimination network and reception centers, to the self-determination of bodies and identity. The intersectional vision of the struggles was also broad during the Pride Park meetings, from the day dedicated to the Constitution to the one dedicated to ecological transition, and the one dedicated to the fight against organized crime and illegality with the 30th anniversary of Fortunato Calvino's Cravattari. Many moments of international importance characterized this edition of Pride Park, but also a wealth of health and wellness, from the breast cancer prevention caravan to the free screening day. dedicated to trans* people, to the hundreds of rapid, anonymous, and free HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis tests that also helped raise awareness and information on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and the fight against serophobia. In the beautiful setting of the Real Albergo dei Poveri, manyand people Guests included Roberto Fico, Gilda Sportiello, and former Mayor de Magistris, Diego Bianchi (live propaganda), Ivan Cotroneo, and Pina Picierno (in her capacity as Vice-President of the European Parliament), as well as a wealth of art and culture, from Maurizio De Giovanni to Simonetta Musitano and Francesco Lepore, from Dadà to the cast of "Dignità autonome di prostituzione," from a stunning Isa Danieli to Cristina Donadio, for a day in honor and memory of the immortal Enzo Moscato. Numerous events were organized by associations, from songs and dances by parents of LGBTQIA+ people from the AGEDO association to reflections on parenting by Famiglie Arcobaleno and Rete Lenford, from photographic exhibitions on the history of the lesbian movement by ALFI Le Maree to a discussion on the rights of trans and non-binary people promoted by the Trans Napoli Association, from in-depth discussions on the anti-discrimination network with Antinoo Arcigay Napoli to LGBTQ-themed cinema with I Ken. Numerous external participants participated, from CGIL to ANPI, from ARCI to Aperitivo resistente, from Sava the Children to Amnesty, from UAAR to Kodokan Napoli. The city administration was always present at all events, with Mayor Manfredi and Councilor for Equal Opportunities Emanuela Ferrante.
The last day of Pride Park deserves a chapter of its own with the meeting between the Naples Pride Committee, the Mayor Gaetano Manfredi together with the Secretary of the PD, Elly Schlein and to the President of the M5S, Joseph Conte. An intense and well-attended event where for the first time the leaders of the major opposition parties to this Government met they are compared on the topic of civil rights and the demands put forward by LGBTQIA+ individuals and associations. A rehearsal for broad, broad-based agreements to stem the reactionary policies of this government and build a concrete alternative.
The day of the procession was exceptional in terms of participation. Saturday, June 29 That, after a few years, comes back and “goes down” to Toledo, quoting Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. All the local institutions were at the forefront: the Municipality of Naples, not just a sponsor but a co-organizer, the Metropolitan City of Naples, the Consulate General of the United States in Naples, and the Campania Region, with the President's exceptional first time at the Pride. Vincenzo De Luca. Many local and international companies participated in the Pride and supported the projects of LGBTQIA+ associations active throughout the year: Coca-Cola, Vitasnella, AVIO AERO, a2a, easyJet, Leopoldo, Caffè Aloia, Wonderful Italy, ANM, EAV, and Radio Ibiza, to name a few. The presence in the square of former Mayor Antonio Bassolino and his wife Anna Maria Carloni was both beautiful and significant. Bassolino, as Mayor, attended the first Naples Pride Parade in 1996 (the first in southern Italy), a Pride event that has since been supported by all the city's mayors (Bassolino, in particular, but also Iervolino in 2010, Luigi de Magistris from 2011 to 2021, and Gaetano Manfredi since 2021).
After the Pride parade, marvelous Star Show with the artistic direction of Diego Di Flora and hosted by Maria Mazza and Marco Maddaloni with the direction of Danilo Bellobuono. In addition to the presence of Malika Ayane, patroness of Napoli Pride 2024, featured performances by Bianca Atzei, Aka 7even, Emiliana Cantone, Rico Femiano, Leo Gassmann, Ivan Granatino, Emma Muscat, Ida Rendano, Silvia Salemi, Sarafine, Vittoria Schisano, Settembre, Veronica Simioli, Ste, Gold Queen, Last Queen, and Jelecrois. A true musical spectacle lasting approximately three hours, featuring fifteen national and international singers and a dance troupe choreographed by Vincenzo Durevole and Giovanna D'Anna. After the Star Show, the pride event continued with the official evening featuring Venus and La Locura at the Lido Miramare.
Before the star show, The usual political speeches by the associations and institutions present, with a moving address by longtime activist Vanni Piccolo, were also included. Unfortunately, we must point out that these scheduled speeches were interrupted several times—for approximately 20 minutes—by an action That we have no difficulty in defining violent, antidemocratic and squadrista, by some Neapolitan social centers, from the former OPG – Je so' pazzo, to several exponents of I'm queer any problem? and ’Ccà nisciun' è FESSA! “. Despite the demonstration is declared immediately against any war and for a ceasefire everywhere you is an ongoing conflict, Make Peace with Rights! after all it is the slogan chosen for Napoli Pride 2024, the collectives – actually about twenty people – they tried in every way to exploit the Pride and to prevent political interventions. It is very unfortunate that these groups, unable to organize their own pride in recent years, and evidently To create a critical mass, they must not miss the opportunity to create moments of tension and oppression at every public demonstration. Despite being allowed to intervene immediately, even before the organizers and the designated institutions, some members of these social centers continued to shout, insult, and rail against Pride and the associations. The insults directed at Loredana Rossi are unspeakable., that by reason ofThe 63rd birthday of the founder of the Trans Naples Association they yelled at her “withdrawn” and they railed against Vanni Piccolo, 85 year old activist and first principal to come out as gay at school and first to go on TV in Italy to talk about AIDS, when he was considered there gay plague, saying “go away you sick gay.”.
However, all the contradictions and hypocrisies have emerged, such as challenging multinationals and Coca Cola in particular, even though it goes up in the park, designer from the bum bag to the shoes and with the latest smartphone model in their pocket, , For maybe find out that the protesters they are the same That that same Coca Cola they sell in public places that occupy illegally.
Never before had Napoli Pride suffered such an attack, not even from Casa Pound or Forza Nuova and it is sad to note that Potere al Popolo the day after this unpleasant protest intervened publicly own to attack Pride and its associations, but perhaps not we should be surprised more than nothing after the electoral alliance between the Communist Rizzo, the former MSI member Gianni Alemanno and the homophobic Daniele Giovanardi.
Despite the vile and failed attempt at boycott and exploitation, Let's think back to the Pride that just concluded as a beautiful piece of our city's history, as a wonderful exercise in resistance and assertion of the needs of all. A Pride that gives us the energy to begin a new year of commitment to Naples. Three hundred thousand thanks.
Naples Pride Committee
Antinoo Arcigay Naples
Transgender Association Naples
ALFI the Tides
Vesuvius Pride
Campania Rainbow Coordination
