CASTELLAMMARE DI STABIA, August 9, 2025 In response to the recent controversy raised by opposition councilor Mario D'Apuzzo regarding the €30,000 contribution in services allocated by the Municipality for the Stabia Pride, the Vesuvio Pride association, the proponent and organizer of the event, is stepping in to clarify and firmly reject the accusations.
The controversy arose following statements by Councilor D'Apuzzo, who called support for the demonstration a "waste of public resources" and an "ideological farce," contrasting the expense with the city's unresolved issues, such as poor roads and a lack of services.
Mayor Luigi Vicinanza promptly responded to these claims, defending the administration's decision. "D'Apuzzo's polemic is vulgar and demagogic," he declared. "Vesuvio Pride is an important event that speaks to inclusion and the defense of civil rights in difficult areas. Using the word 'carnival' for an initiative to protect the rights of vulnerable groups fuels homophobia. Our administration intervenes in every field to defend the most vulnerable, and this event is proof of that."“
Along the same lines is placed Danilo Di Leo, president of Vesuvius Pride, the association organizing the event, which said it was “particularly disturbed”" from the prosecution. "“It is surprising that in 2025 we can still hear such statements,”" Di Leo declared. "“They demonstrate a profound lack of understanding of the meaning of Pride. Behind our colors lies the vindication of a life of suffering, lived by denying one's individuality due to a society that, as Councilor D'Apuzzo demonstrates, still discriminates and allows the internet to spew hatred against LGBTQIA+ people. Pride is not a celebration in and of itself, but a moment of struggle for civil rights and the freedom to be oneself. It is not an exclusive manifestation of the gay community, but an intersectional event that for years has embraced the voices of all those who feel the need to reclaim rights and freedoms denied by patriarchy, discrimination, and war. Pride, he concluded, “It's the pride of being oneself, not of being better than others. The date of September 20th was also chosen to remember and celebrate the secular nature of our country..”
It echoes him Antonello Sannino, president of Antinoo Arcigay Naples: “While D'Apuzzo chooses the path of controversy, we choose the path of gratitude. Sincere applause goes to the municipal administration of Castellammare di Stabia, Mayor Luigi Vicinanza, and Councilor Annalisa Di Nuzzo for their vision and courage. Their decision is not an expense, but a strategic investment in happiness, beauty, and rights for the entire community. Investing in rights is not just a matter of justice, but a driver of progress for all. It is good for democracy, because an inclusive society is a stronger society. It is good for economic growth, as concrete data demonstrate. The recent report on LGBTQIA+ inclusion and local economic development, conducted by Tortuga in collaboration with the Edge association and published by a respected newspaper like Il Sole 24 Ore, scientifically confirms that the most inclusive cities are also those with greater overall well-being, both socially and economically. As southerners, linked by a deep cultural history to the rest of the Mediterranean, we should carefully consider virtuous models like the Spanish one. There, the determined investment in civil rights has generated not only a more equal society, but also a tangible economic and image return for the entire country.”.
Supporting Pride is the decision of an administration that looks to the future, unafraid to stand on the right side of history, and that understands that the rights of a segment of the community are the rights of all. With this decision, Castellammare di Stabia demonstrates itself as a modern and forward-thinking city, ready to reap the benefits, including economic ones, of a more just and inclusive society.
The Stabia Pride will be held on September 20 with a procession from Marina di Stabia to Piazza Giovanni XXIII, followed by debates and a show artistic for the city, with local and national guests.
