Bari. Kisses in the streets against homophobia.

BARI Traffic, amidst the chaos of 8 p.m. on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Bari, was blocked five times. One hundred people, mostly women, wanted to kiss each other in remembrance. They wanted to testify, in front of motorists—more intrigued and amused than shocked or annoyed—and in front of cameras and lenses, that homosexuals shouldn't be feared. Yesterday, Bari associations fighting for equal rights for all celebrated (also) the International Day Against Homophobia. May 17th commemorates the removal of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses, drawn up by the World Health Organization, which occurred on May 17, 1990. It's an occasion to raise public awareness on the issue. Seven groups and associations, starting with Arcigay and Arcilesbica, organized various events throughout the afternoon to promote discussion, learning, and fun: a film was screened at the Taverna del Maltese, and another video, curated by Arcigay, was shown at the Ciclatera. Then, directed by the "Un desiderio in comune" association, the "Cross Kissing" flash mob took place: crossing the street and kissing on the lips. Heterosexuals and homosexuals, couples, and friends were invited to participate. The initiative was a success, considering that the peaceful occupation of the roadway designated for cars was repeated five times, under the patient eyes of traffic police. As the traffic light turned red, girls and boys, men and women—some angrier, carrying anti-fascist banners, some more amused, sporting wigs and T-shirts with jokey slogans—stood in the middle of the street and began kissing until the light turned green. The playful atmosphere spread to passersby: from the second attempt, the performance was followed by the rhythmic honking of car horns and applause. The goal, as the organizers wrote in their document, "to give visibility to our concerns because sexual identity in Italy is not a value and is not protected, but is lived in invisibility, as a survival strategy to avoid discrimination, verbal and physical violence, and abuse," seems to have been achieved. At least for one evening. Ad. Lo.