They had just fulfilled their dream of love by getting married in a civil ceremony in the Campidoglio when, that same evening, Valentino and Alex were brutally attacked near the Piramide metro station in Rome.
Two young men approached them, insulted them with homophobic phrases, and then punched and kicked them. One of the attackers even pulled out a knife. Fortunately, they managed to escape and go to the emergency room, where they then contacted the Gay Help Line 800 713 713, which is also the LGBT+ service for the Municipality of Rome.
Since the day of the attack, we have been providing the couple with maximum support, and yesterday morning, as associations that manage the Gay Help line service—Gay Center, Arcigay Roma, Differenza Lesbica, and Azione Trans—we met at the Capitoline Hill with Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the President of Municipio I, Lorenza Bonaccorsi. We have been collaborating with Bonaccorsi for some time in Municipio I through the PUA LGBT+ help desk, which offers support to LGBT+ people, and the CoHousing Refuge LGBT+, a family home dedicated to LGBT+ people who are victims of family abuse or migrants, to support them on their path to independence.
Marilena Grassadonia, delegate of the LGBT Office of the Municipality of Rome, was also present at the meeting.
The Gay Help Line 800713713 service is supported by the Municipality of Rome, the Municipio 1 of Rome, 8×1000 funds from the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai, the Waldensian Church, and donations from companies and private individuals.
[:it]Article taken from https://arcigayroma.it/feed
