by BEPPE PERSICHELLA
Gay unions are also in Bologna, as in London and Paris. Heterosexual and homosexual couples will be equal for one night, with the same rights and the possibility of getting married. This is the provocation that the Cassero will stage on Saturday the 23rd, the day before the vote. After the turnaround in Great Britain and France, the gay community is increasing its pressure on the center-left and the Democratic Party. The epicenter of this protest will be the historic gay club on Via Don Minzoni, which will proclaim itself,
the evening before the polls, “Free Republic” will give everyone the chance to say “yes”.
The evening's program, "Tonight I'm Getting Married," is the chosen title – it's intended to be very similar to that of a normal wedding day. Before presenting themselves before the celebrant (thinking of a prominent figure in the LGBT community like Vladimir Luxuria or Bolognese Helena Velena), the engaged couple will be able to visit the makeup and costume room before having their photographs taken. At midnight sharp, the dancing will stop and, to the tune of the wedding march, homosexual and heterosexual couples will be able to marry. A provocative move just hours before the vows and a clear message addressed to the public.
to the Democratic Party, which is instead pushing for the German model (unions only for gays that aren't considered marriage but are treated similarly under the civil code). "This is another form of discrimination. Equal things are called by the same name, and the only one is marriage," attacks Cassero president Vincenzo Branà. From the Towers, Arcigay's protest will spread throughout Italy with a poster campaign in favor of gay marriage and a website with a telling name—www.temposcaduto.com—which will publish the positions of parliamentary candidates on this issue. Because—Branà reiterates—"we don't have whims, but families to regularize." The fact that relations with the Democratic Party in the city have become more tense is demonstrated by a harsh exchange of comments yesterday on Facebook between Democrat Davide Di Noi and Branà himself. "The German model is a first step. "We must respect everyone's positions," Di Noi retorted, responding to Branà, who on his message board had criticized Bersani for being held hostage by the Catholic Democratic Party. "The position of those who want to deny a right should never be respected. And within the Democratic Party, there are those who want to deny a right," Branà replied. Democratic Party Senate candidate Sergio Lo Giudice, longtime president of Arcigay, is trying to mend the rift, promising: "If elected, I will immediately present a bill on same-sex marriage. That's the best way forward.".
