It's official. All the technical obstacles preventing the national Gay Pride parade, scheduled for June 19th in Grosseto, from passing through the streets of the historic center have been resolved.
Little One
Exactly one month before Gay Pride, in a fortunate coincidence of dates, the Conference of Services at the Municipality of Grosseto—which included representatives of the municipal administration, the Police Headquarters, and the "Toscana Pride 2004" Committee—decided that the procession would pass through the historic city center, specifically from the Porta Nuova entrance point to Porta Corsica, along Corso Carducci.
This will avoid the much-contested diversion along Viale Manetti, which would have prevented the floats from passing through the city center.
While we await the final green light from the Police Headquarters, the city of Grosseto's strong support for the national Gay Pride event, including at the institutional level, is evident.
“"This is a matter of great symbolic importance. The possibility of the parade passing through the city center does justice to an event that will be one of the most significant in Grosseto's recent history," stated Davide Buzzetti, spokesperson for the "Toscana Pride 2004" Committee. "A bit of luck and common sense ultimately paid off for the efforts of all the organizations involved. In our opinion, the city is approaching this adventure with great maturity, and it's right that everything unfolds as smoothly as possible, from the Pride week at the Bastione Garibaldi to the parade in the city center, and to the closing celebration at the Enaoli in Rispescia.".
For more information on Gay Pride 2004: www.toscanapride.it
Read the full program for the Pride Parade, which will take place from June 4th to 20th in Pistoia, Florence, Lucca, and Grosseto.
It will be held Saturday, May 22, 2004, at 11:15 a.m. at the Le Giubbe Rosse bar — Piazza della Repubblica — Florence the regional press conference on the 2004 national Pride.
The topics on the agenda will be:
1. presentation of the inaugural event of Toscana Pride 2004, which will be held in Florence on June 4th, with the opening of the Polispazio Queer;
2. presentation of the official Toscana Pride guide;
3. Presentation of the concert by the national artist that will conclude the 2004 Toscana Pride in Grosseto on June 19th.
Speakers will include:
Queen Satanian, President of the Tuscany Pride Committee
David Buzzetti, Spokesperson for Tuscany Pride
Liana Borghi, head of the Lespride group
Paul Baldi, coordinator of the Florence Queer Festival
Alessio De Giorgi, President of Arcigay Tuscany
PRESS RELEASE ARCIGAY TOSCANA
One month after Gay Pride
Appeal to Tuscan mayors and provincial presidents: "Carry your banner in the procession."«
«"A proposal to the mayors and provincial presidents of Tuscany: join us in the Grosseto Pride, bringing your banner, encouraging the city council to join the national demonstration, and marching for the freedom of a minority, which is the freedom of all." Exactly one month before the final Tuscany Pride event, on June 19th in Grosseto, Alessio De Giorgi and Davide Buzzetti, president and regional secretary of Arcigay Toscana, with this appeal to all Tuscan mayors and provincial presidents intend to emphasize how responding to the homosexual issue is "now one of the boundaries of new freedoms and the secular nature of institutions.".
For Arcigay, "Tuscany is coming to the meeting with almost all its paperwork in order. The recently approved regional statute recognizes our couples and prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, while the first regional law against discrimination in Italy is awaiting approval by the Regional Council after a lengthy process. Welcoming policies have also been implemented by many provinces and municipalities, including Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio, and Grosseto.".
But the path is still difficult for those who freely intend to become aware of their sexual orientation to themselves and those around them, the so-called "coming out." "In this regard," continues the Arcigay statement, "there is a specific responsibility on the part of those who administer public affairs locally to implement measures that facilitate this journey of visibility and equal dignity that the gay world is undertaking in Tuscany and throughout the world where being homosexual is legal." From civil union registries (although the municipalities that have approved them so far are largely Tuscan) to cultural and social initiatives, from educational programs in schools to information campaigns, for Arcigay Toscana "there are a thousand tools that the mayors of our region can and must use. At stake is an issue that should be central to anyone involved in politics: ensuring that citizens, as many citizens as possible, have equal dignity and full rights and are 'happy.'".
Alessio De Giorgi – Regional President
Davide Buzzetti – Regional Secretary
