Let's free Luca from homophobic prejudice!

From today everyone can read the lyrics of the song that Povia will sing at Sanremo (see below), a musical-media operation that represents a wound for all those homosexual people in Italy who are still fighting against homophobia and the ignorance that pervades many families and many social contexts.

This text, flaunting vile stereotypes and cheap psychology, represents a promotion of the feelings of fear and shame that many gays and lesbians experience first-hand, victims of families that do not accept them, of a school that isolates them, of a society that gives them no legal recognition of their loves.

Luca's story is that of a person who feels emotional and physical attraction for both men and women – and for this reason he can be defined bisexual – but who lives with terror of their own gay behavior, pandering to that Catholic fundamentalism that would force us into standardized behaviors that disrespect everyone's freedom.

Mr. Povia, We want to reiterate that homosexuality and bisexuality are natural variations of human identity and behavior.. And that sexual orientation isn't something you change like a pair of shoes, but something rooted in our nature and in our way of acting.

But above all We would like to say to all the Lucas who live in every part of our country and they try to assert themselves and that they got angry when they read this text, not to be afraid because being gay or bisexual means being happy, not hiding, not being ashamed, being yourself, not feeling guilty! Each line of the second verse of the song represents a stab in the heart of those who fight daily to assert themselves beyond all prejudice and desire to express themselves in the light of day.

How others look at us and tell us about us becomes part of who we are, thus, being victims of a deep-rooted social stigma that defines homosexual love as inferior, dirty and sinful, Homophobia becomes part of the ego, affecting self-esteem and contributing to psychosocial distress. Gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals can experience feelings of self-loathing and shame, linked to the accumulation of negative messages about homosexuality sent by family, TV, and the church. This painful phenomenon is called internalized homophobia and it is generally not conscious, even if it determines closed attitudes and discriminatory behaviors on the part of homosexual and bisexual people themselves, both towards themselves and towards others.

Arcigay, ArciLesbica, Arci, Agedo and Famiglie Arcobaleno respond to this and the many other attacks that various public figures have been making themselves spokesmen for in recent times by promoting the appeal LET'S HEAL ITALY FROM PREJUDICE, to reaffirm the dignity of LGBT people and firmly reject that obscurantist culture that would like to take our country back to the Middle Ages.

The appeal has already been signed by several personalities from the world of entertainment, culture and communication, including Luciana Litizzetto And Lella Costa. It can be found on

and you can sign by sending your application to [email protected]

We invite all public figures, aware of their role and the power their positions have on their followers, to join our appeal.

Furthermore, the appointment is for everyone Saturday 21 February in Sanremo, with the national event Se M'Innamoro which will see a joyful procession parading through the streets of the Festival on the afternoon of the final day of the event, which will be enriched by irony, music, love and above all happiness..

Aurelio Mancuso, national president of Arcigay