A UDC meeting with civil society took place in Genoa on November 30, 2009. Casini stated that he expected strong commitments and major changes from those who wish to ally themselves with his party in the upcoming regional elections. And among the possible bargaining chips, the ultra-Catholic party's request would be to no longer deal with laws against homophobic and transphobic discrimination., like the one just approved by the Regional Council.
“"Casini quite clearly asks the other Ligurian parties to cancel the fight against discrimination and homophobia in favor of an alliance with his party," says Arcigay national secretary Riccardo Gottardi.”For more than 10 years we have been sacrificed by the centre-left in favour of alliances with the Catholics and frankly we are fed up with it.. We can't find ourselves ten years in the past today. We're very concerned that whoever wins the next regional elections will still be a slave to the UDC's ultimatums."”
“We want to remember that Casini, the regional coordinator Monteleone and the entire UDC are the men of continuous NO, starting from the offensive comparison of sexual orientation with bestiality, necrophilia and paedophilia” – adds Valerio Barbini, president of Arcigay Genova L'Approdo – “Let them also start saying YES if they want to run to govern all Ligurians, instead of just acting in the interests of the Vatican.. The anti-discrimination law is one of the many achievements of civilization in our region, and they would like to take us back to the Middle Ages and out of Europe.”
“Paradoxically,” Barbini concludes, “on many issues, such as migrants' rights and support for large families, we might even find ourselves in agreement with the UDC if they didn't approach them ideologically. When they want to have a serious discussion on the fight against homophobia and transphobia, we will be there..”
Arcigay Genoa L'Approdo
