How should we respond to the denial of funding for a performance-forum by the LGBT Teatro dell'Oppresso, presented by the Verona theater group "Il Dado" (featuring a member from Trentino) at the Circoscrizione S. Giuseppe-S. Chiara? Perhaps we had organized and performed a similar performance-forum at the Circoscrizione Hall in November, and a second one in May is too much?
The show was a huge success, with 150 people from across the city and even some from the neighboring Veneto region in attendance. It was so interesting and engaging that we were asked to propose another one soon. So who decides the quantity (and quality, and urgency and importance?) of the possible events that can be funded?
Perhaps Arcigay Trentino isn't just for Piedicastello, but has members and represents gay and lesbian people from across the city and the entire province? Perhaps they think that the residents of the district don't include gay, lesbian, and transgender people, don't pay contributions like everyone else, aren't equal citizens, class A and not class B or C or whatever?
Perhaps this is the "not particularly relevant" aspect of the district? Perhaps if we had still had our headquarters on Via Veneto, as it was until four years ago, would you have given us the funding? To those who "thunder," we respond that we are part of the city that has always been open and available to dialogue and discussion, and that does not confine itself to its own "particularity," its own neighborhood (and then to the street, the road, the apartment building, how far does that go?). And that the proposed performance-forum is beneficial (it is a civic and testimonial theater) and is open to all citizens of Trentino and beyond! We suspect that the denial is a form of fear of differences and implies a discriminatory and possibly homophobic attitude, but we would like to be proven wrong.
We thank Councilor Gretter and Council President Maistri for their words of support and their actions. We would like to conclude by inviting all citizens to see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears what is "incompatible" in the spectacle of May 27th, and by recalling and paraphrasing an ancient and wise proverb, similar in various versions around the world, both Western and Eastern: the mother of all blind kittens is always pregnant...
Stefano Cò, President of Arcigay of Trentino
