On the banks of the Naviglio, love… surprises

CELEBRATION The boat left Cassinetta di Lugagnano with a greeting from the deputy mayor and a speech from the provincial president of Equal Opportunities Agnese Tacchini and provincial councilor Luca Gandolfi
FROM ITALY'S SQUARES to the Naviglio Grande, love... unsettles. The tour against homophobia and transphobia, promoted by the Arcobaleno coordination group, departed from dry land and took to the waterways to bring a message of positivity to the municipalities the boat passes through. "A message not of tolerance," as the organizers stated, "but of celebration: bad things are tolerated, not love, which should instead be celebrated even in diversity." The boat, carrying representatives of the participating associations (Agedo, Arcigay, Arcilesbica, Arcobaleni in marcia, Certi Diritti, Famiglie arcobaleno, Gaylib, GayStatale, Gruppo soggettività anale, Guado, KOB, La Fenice, Le rose di Gertrude, Linea Lesbica Amica, Milk), departed from Cassinetta di Lugagnano, where Deputy Mayor Alessio Torti, Provincial Equal Opportunities President Agnese Tacchini, and Provincial Councilor Luca Gandolfi greeted the crowds. From the pier, the boat then departed for Robecco, Magenta, Boffalora, and finally Bernate Ticino, under the patronage of the mayors. "It was a deeply felt initiative," commented Sergio Prato, president of the association Le rose di Gertrude, "this means that something is moving and a cultural change is already underway. Unfortunately, just on Friday, a Milanese university student was verbally and physically attacked on campus, but the positive thing is that the administrators and professors immediately and unanimously condemned the act, without hesitation." The colorful boat, filled with balloons, departed at four in the afternoon: in the meantime, preparations for a heterosexual wedding were in full swing in front of the pier. "We extend our best wishes to the future spouses," said Stefania Cista, president of Arcilesbica, "and we also hope that in the future, rights like this will be guaranteed to everyone without distinction." Camilla Garavaglia