by MASSIMO GUERRETTA
PADUA
Harvey Milk set a precedent. The ideas of the San Francisco businessman, who paid with his life for the political struggle for gay rights on the West Coast, reached the far Northeast.
Padua is the first Italian city to adopt a "gay-friendly" stamp. This distinctive, "doc" sign will be displayed in the windows of bars, shops, and hotels welcoming gay guests. "A step forward in the protection of homosexuality," say those in favor. "Another example of ghettoization," thunder those against, primarily the People of Freedom Party (PDL) with MP Filippo Ascierto: "The stamp is a contradiction; it identifies them as different." The gay community is witnessing a very delicate situation.
The first point was made by Etta Andreella, representative of the Tourism Promotion Consortium, from the stage at the Padova Pride Village at the Fiera. "Sponsored" by big names like Luciana Littizzetto and Patty Pravo, she launched the plan to transform Padua into the Italian San Francisco, a prime destination for gay tourism. "We are the first city in Italy to request this recognition," she explained. "Now we will work with hotels and venues to advance the initiative." A cultural revolution in the heart of Northern League-controlled Veneto, the land of Gentilini and Missiato (the mayor of Spresiano declared a year ago that "gays need treatment," later apologizing). But it's also a marketing ploy: economists consider gay couples to be the most likely to spend. Ascom, in reality, is taken aback: the provincial president of the merchants, Fernando Zilio, considers it "a trendy proposal." There are no backward-looking businesses, I don't know if it will be useful," while the gay community gathered online to announce huge crowds: Padua wants to become a reference point. "This has been the trend for years, this city is one of the most modern in Italy," comments Alessandro Zan, councilor and regional secretary of Arcigay. "Events related to the importance of civil rights and the gay and lesbian communities will be our flagship.".
