And so we won. But no one noticed.
In Rome, for Kiss2Pacs, with 1705 couples the record has been broken.
Obviously no one did it for the record (the reasons were different), but even being the most homophobic journalist in the world, at this point it was a curious little news item that made up two lines of an article or ten seconds of news.
But no. Aside from a few quick mentions here and there, the next day the press silence surrounding the event was deafening. Pantani and the usual Ulivo rants (does anyone really care?) monopolized all the attention.
So, after the event, we begin to wonder "what was the point of Kiss2Pacs" and how such monolithic censorship was possible.
I disagree with those who say "we were unlucky": "If Pantani hadn't died that day, we would have gotten media coverage." Journalistic logic dictates that if Pantani hadn't died that day, then some media outlets might have reported our story among the first ones rather than among the more hidden ones...
The point is, however, that the news was not even reported among those who were not present…
So Pantani has nothing to do here. Requiescat in peace.
This isn't a matter of carelessness. As has been pointed out, there were those who spoke openly about the civil disobedience launched in San Francisco, later adding that "even in Europe" there had been demonstrations for gay civil unions. It's a shame that in Europe the only demonstration of that kind was Kiss2Pacs. What we're dealing with here is the decision not to let Italians know what "certain" of their fellow citizens were asking for, not the lack of space to discuss it, due to the "Pantani event.".
But Berlusconi is not the only one who has a penchant for censorship. left The fact that Rome's mayor, Veltroni, the oh-so-good "do-gooder," denied sponsorship to Kiss2Pacs has gone completely unnoticed. Here's a worthy emulator of Rutelli's feats with World Pride: the Italian left loses the elections, but not its vice.
And then a little answer to "why this happened" begins to form in my mind.
The media flop doesn't mean we don't matter: at most, it means that there is no relationship between TV and reality.
It doesn't even mean it was poorly organized: a lot of people worked on it for months, and it's certainly no coincidence that the world record was broken!
It just means that we we are not able to speak loud enough to be heard.
We are not a nuisance.
We are too good.
Let the loudspeakers of the regime's propaganda and the ringing of Catholic bells always drown out our voices.
We can also deplore, if we want, the fact that in this world "chi vusa pussé, la vacca 'è soa" ("Whoever shouts the loudest, the cow is his": popular wisdom!). But after having made our fair share of deprecations, let's face it: this is the game, and if we want to play politics, these are the rules.
If Kiss2Pacs had taken place during an Ulivo congress, even God himself could have died that day, but in that case it would have been talked about. Especially if the initiative had been accompanied by a strong demand, better yet blackmail, better yet a threat: we'll come kissing at every one of your meetings as long as Fassino or Veltroni say something about PACS, "even if they're not left-wing... but say something"...
The same goes for Lombard or Forza Italia supporters' conventions, especially if your heart beats on the right. Everyone disputes their own, if they prefer. But dispute.
They won't let us in? So much the better. How many police forces does it take to keep out 10,000 people who just want to kiss in a room?
And are you sure TV wouldn't talk about it? Wouldn't it cause a national scandal? Of course it would! "Whoever sees it...".
From San Francisco The whole world is talking only because the mayor practiced civil disobedience, because he defied the law (in an exquisitely nonviolent manner), certainly not because he invented something about LGBT unions. Can you imagine Veltroni challenging, not just the president, but even his own neighborhood priest? I see you rolling with laughter at the very thought!
Good. What does the mayor of San Francisco have that Veltroni doesn't? Answer: a gay community that protests and makes itself heard.
So, all things considered, I'd say that if we don't want more media flops, we need to become meaner. More mean. More intolerant.
I didn't say "more violent": I've already repeated enough what I think about violence. I said intolerant. Being intolerant of gulags, concentration camps, and racism… isn't wrong at all. Rather, it's wrong to be tolerant, acquiescent, and always willing to excuse the politician of the moment who won't listen to a discriminated minority…
Okay, you're not listening to the good ones? Let's move on to the bad ones.
No more kissing in the square.
Now we need to block the registry offices in Milan and Rome, with fifty gay or lesbian couples showing up every day to ask for their marriage bans to be posted. Every day, every day, for weeks, dragging their feet, clogging up the office, refusing to leave on their own when they send us away—in short, preventing normal procedures from proceeding. For days, day after day, until "someone" realizes that "something" is happening.
The time has come to show our cards, and not just those of the straight world, but also those of the Italian gay world. The time to verify whether it's true that all these things exist. couples Homosexuals who long for recognition. If there are any, let them show themselves: after all, it's their lives that are at stake!
And if they weren't there... then forget the LGBT movement, and let's move on to more serious matters.
For example, whether gay people prefer Madonna or Kylie Minogue.
The certainty that at least this topic is of interest to the average Italian gay man, at least this, 'we have…
