It was the beginning of March when a group of students pissed off They called the President of Eos Arcigay Calabria of Cosenza, Federico Cerminara, making him an indecent proposal: "We heard that Povia will be holding a concert in the city on Monday the 30th; we really can't stomach this story!... We wanted to know what you think and if you'd be willing to protest with us...".
The President could not believe his ears, not only because the sign of life came from the University which seemed almost asleep, but also because those words that are often difficult to hear even within the LGBT community came from straight people, totally outside the association.
The answer, of course, was an immediate "YES!", but with some wise advice: "Let's not even mention Mr. Povia (who's already had enough publicity), let's organize a great demonstration that addresses certain issues clearly, directly, and decisively, and then let's all celebrate together, toasting free love and the right to be yourself and be happy.".
Thus the machine began to get moving with unprecedented meetings, contacts, and leafleting (it felt like being at the Cassero) until the fateful day arrived. The occupied hall (filol8, from which the collective also takes its name) was already packed with people, but students kept coming in droves and droves (and this continued until late at night), so much so that it reached peaks of attendance of over 500 people. The poor secretary, who had prudently worn his much-appreciated Anti-Vatican T-shirt, strategically placed behind the Association's stand, was trying in vain to keep count.
All the speeches were well attended and interesting (from the President, to the councillor of the now famous gay-friendly municipality of Polistena Massimo Frana, to the representatives of "Filol8-Azioni Manifeste"), but the most anticipated one was the one by the psychologist Eos. Dr. Emanuela Leone, which finally he outlined a precise picture of the relationship between psychology and homosexuality, completely sweeping away the unfounded pseudo-"reparative" theories and the increasingly surprising one of"enchanter Paolo Patanè, which literally held the entire audience riveted and fascinated.
After the thunderous applause, the numerous interventions of the participants in the debate, including the courageous denunciation of A student who rebelled against her psychology professor and his assistant who wanted to make her believe that homosexuality was an illness. (but this is another chapter, which we will soon tell you about….), the energy was really high, as was the desire to have fun and be together and so we had free rein to the excellent food, to the Eos material, which aroused enormous curiosity and interest, to the condoms, which literally sold out, and finally to four tarantella jumps with improvised musicians and dancers to digest even before the inevitable album.
A real success, in short (confirmed by the local newspapers), beyond all expectations! The next day, among other things, someone within the group took the time to ask a question (we had almost forgotten): "But what about Povia's concert? I wonder how it went?" The chorus immediately responded: "What! Didn't you hear? It was cancelled due to unsold tickets…""At this point it's time to change the title: "No longer Arcigay beats Povia 1-0", but "Eos Arcigay Calabria beats Povia by default" and this time no ball in the center!
The Eos Secretary
Carvelli Massimiliano.
