“Gay Rauss” This racist anti-gay graffiti, accompanied by a swastika, appeared last night in front of the Baroni bookshop in Lucca.
A few hours earlier other homophobic graffiti had appeared on the Belvedere di Torre
of the lake.
On June 28th Giuseppe Lo Presti presented his book Homophobia at the Baroni bookshop in Lucca.
“"Gays and lesbians in Italy suffer not only from widespread prejudice but also from the constant underestimation of the real social threat that is homophobia," commented Arcigay president Sergio Lo Giudice.
""Just a couple of days ago, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, marching at the Paris Gay Pride Parade, asked the French government to pass a law against 'homophobic, lesbophobic, and transphobic' words and actions. In Italy, as a survey on racism revealed a few days ago, we are in a situation where homosexual people, along with Roma, are the people most affected by racist attitudes."“
""For these reasons we support the request of the Gay and Lesbian Club The Other Face of Lucca in requesting a strong response from the institutions and we are joining the demonstration organized for this evening at 7 pm at the Baroni bookshop in Lucca.""
Press Release from Arcigay Toscana 30.06.03
READY TO MARCH ON LUCCA
Arcigay Toscana, the regional gay and lesbian association with offices in Florence, Pisa, Pistoia, and Siena, expresses its deepest concern over the very serious events that occurred last night in Lucca, where the window of the Baroni bookshop, where the gay and lesbian association "L'altro Volto" had held a book presentation a few days earlier, was defaced with swastikas and "Gay Rauss" graffiti.
“"These signals should not be underestimated," emphasizes Alessio De Giorgi, regional president of Arcigay Toscana, "because they call into question some of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, starting with the right to freely assemble. Defacing the windows of merchants who "stand in solidarity" is a very serious signal, also because it recalls very dark times in our history that we all wish never to see repeated."“
“"We are ready to organize a large demonstration in Lucca," concludes Alessio De Giorgi, "if the institutions don't send clear and unequivocal signals condemning the incident and distancing themselves from these small local neo-fascist groups, which are currently operating with complete peace of mind, with the legitimacy of some of the institutions. We are waiting to see what action is taking: we await concrete words and signs of concern from the Mayor and the President of the Province."”
Finally, Arcigay Toscana is joining the protest this evening, at 7 pm, at the Baroni bookshop, organized by the "L'Altro Volto" association.
