On December 3, 2008 in front of the archiepiscopal seat of Genoa, led by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the CEI, in the city hosting the next national Pride, some representatives of Arcigay, including the national president and secretary, They lay down in the square to remember the dozens of gay and lesbian people who die around the world because of their homosexuality..
In the world 93 nations still legally punish homosexuality. In 7 of these – Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Nigeria, Mauritania – gays and lesbians are punished with the death penalty (For further information, visit the ILGA website).
”"These victims of hatred cannot shout anything in their countries. We want to take to the streets to denounce these atrocious acts of violence on their behalf.” – declares Aurelio Mancuso, national president of Arcigay – “In the city that will host the national Pride in June 2009, the week of protests against the Vatican's stance at the UN has begun. In the coming days, we will express our outrage in other cities and distribute flyers to inform the public.”.
”"We will also seek dialogue with Catholics, who, as all the polls in recent days demonstrate, do not agree with the Vatican's position," adds national secretary Riccardo Gottardi. “This is why we are protesting in front of the archbishoprics, symbols of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, while in front of the churches we want to carry out information and awareness-raising work. with respect to the tragic violence that affects thousands of homosexual people in the world.”
With the sit-in in GENOA and a similar one to TURIN On December 3rd, protests began in the following cities:
MILAN – Lombardy
Sit-in in the Piazza Duomo area on Wednesday, December 10 – International Human Rights Day – 6:00 PM
CREMONA – Lombardy
Information leaflets will be distributed on Monday, December 8th at 10:30 a.m. in Piazza del Comune.
TRENTO – Trentino Alto Adige
Awareness flyer distribution in front of the Cathedral on Sunday morning, December 7th
TRIESTE – Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sit-in and torchlight procession on Thursday 11 December from 6pm to 7pm in Via Cavana 16 under the episcopal curia
BOLOGNA – Emilia-Romagna
Distribution of awareness flyers in front of St. Peter's Cathedral on Monday 8th from 11am to 12pm; Tuesday, December 9th Presiding at the city council building at 5:30 p.m. + torchlight procession in Piazza Nettuno 6:30 PM
Sergio Lo Giudice's initiative in the Bologna City Council
PADUA – Veneto
Leafleting on Saturday, December 6, 2008, in Prato della Valle
Alessandro Zan's initiative in the Padua City Council
FLORENCE – Tuscany
Sit-in in front of the Duomo on Monday 8 December at 3:30 pm
PERUGIA – Umbria
Press conference Saturday, December 6th at 10 a.m.
NAPLES – Campania
Sit-in in front of the Duomo on Saturday 6 December at 11 am.
COSENZA – Calabria
Photographic exhibition on homophobic violence – travelling through the city streets during the Test Days
CATANIA – Sicily
Performance in Piazza Università (side of Piazza Duomo) on Sunday 7 December from 10am to 1pm
Visit the Christ is Dead page.
ROME – national demonstration
The initiatives will culminate with the National sit-in planned in Rome in Piazza Pio XII in front of St. Peter's on Saturday 6 December at 5pm.
National representatives of Arcigay and Arcilesbica, as well as Vladimir Luxuria, will be present.
Photos of the demonstrations in Genoa, Rome, and Naples are available on:
www.arcigay.it/fotogallery
