VERBANIA – During the dinner against homophobia, the award was presented to the founder of Agedo. Previously, it had only been given to Lella Costa.
Arcigay Verbania's dinner against homophobia was held last Friday, May 27, at the Lago Maggiore Restaurant. This was the last event organized by the association to mark the International Day for the Fight against Homophobia. Throughout the month of May, Arcigay dedicated all its activities to the awareness campaign "Italy United Against Homophobia," which, sponsored by the Municipality of Verbania, saw posters displayed throughout the province. According to a press release issued by the association, the mayor of Verbania, Marco Zacchera, spoke at the dinner, reminding everyone of the administration's commitment to the fight against all forms of discrimination, including that directed against lesbians and gay men.
The dinner was the occasion to award an honorary membership card to Paola Dell'Orto (pictured with Marco Coppola), founder and longtime national president of A.Ge.DO (Association of Parents, Friends, and Relatives of Homosexuals), now president of A.Ge.DO Verbania. Paola Dell'Orto has been committed for over fifteen years to combating prejudice against lesbians and gay men, promoting the acceptance of families with their gay children. Together with her son Giovanni, she co-authored the book "Figli Diversi, New Generation" (ed.sonda), which has had five reprints and remains a reference manual for those approaching homosexuality. She has successfully built a national network of associations, serving as a point of reference for individuals and institutions, twice signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education on the prevention of homophobic bullying in schools and receiving various awards, including the Ambrogino d'Oro, one of the coveted awards from the City of Milan (home of the national association). For ten years, Paola Dell'Orto has also been involved in Verbania, where she is president of the local Agedo, with projects to prevent bullying in schools and activities to welcome lesbians, gay men, and their families.
“"Arcigay Verbania is honored to have been a sponsor and to have been able to present Paola with an honorary membership card," said Marco Coppola, president of the Verbania association. "For us lesbians and gay men, she is the symbol of a mother who not only welcomed her gay son, but who also put herself on the front lines to make our lives better." He continued, "Our Arcigay could not exist without her leadership, just as the Italian LGBT (lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual) movement would not be what it is today without her incisive contribution." He concluded, "We were truly moved to read the words of our national president, Paolo Patanè, who not only bestowed the honor as such but also expressed the affection we all have for her; our society needs enlightened, elegant, respectful people with a great sense of love for others like Paola Dell'Orto.".
“"Arcigay's honorary membership," the association explains, "was previously awarded only to actress Lella Costa, for her support of our concerns over two decades. At the dinner against homophobia, residents responded by packing the Lago Maggiore restaurant. The Association's volunteers can only thank everyone for their participation.".
