On May 17, dozens of countries celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, a crime against humanity that kills gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
Second the dossier on homo-transphobia in Italy that Arcigay releases every year for the occasion in 2012 there were seven homosexual and transsexual murders, to which three victims were added in 2013. An estimate of the number of "homicides", reconstructed only on the basis of printed sources, attests to over 150 victims in the last forty years. That number underestimates the blood shed by homosexual and transgender people. Homophobia and transphobia thrive in invisibility and are camouflaged by victims' fear of reporting.
The silent holocaust of homosexuals and transgender people is not only death, but also bloodshed, beatings, assaults, ridicule, insults, bullying, and exclusion. In 2012, over thirty cases of homophobia became public knowledge, including violence, extortion, robbery, bullying, vandalism, and other incidents, compared to over fifty in 2011.
“These numbers don't represent a decline, but merely reflect the media's interest in the phenomenon, which has evidently waned. Seven murders in 2012 alone, compared to two in 2011, are a staggering number. The unreported violence remains incalculable, just as the public homophobic statements by political and religious figures are innumerable. Homophobia gives Italian gays, lesbians, and transgender people no respite, and the lack of a public observatory doesn't help us understand the extent of the phenomenon. Flavio Romani, president of Arcigay.
“"The refusal to act by successive governments and parliaments, all incapable of passing a law to combat homophobia and transphobia, makes our politicians complicit in the violence and discrimination that affects gays, lesbians, and trans people," Romani continues.
“"Not only are dozens of politicians, even those in government, speaking out in favor of excluding homosexuals from legal institutions like civil marriage, without even realizing that excluding a minority from the law is homophobic. Worse still, political forces of all stripes have gone no further than chatter on the issue, and the last Parliament twice scuttled a timid bill to combat homophobia. We demand that the penal code intervene against the hatred that fuels violence against homosexual and transgender people. How many more deaths does this conscience-deprived political class need before it can get moving?" adds the president of Arcigay.
Arcigay, for this May 17th, has organized on the national territory an awareness campaign that will be spread through tens of thousands of posters, postcards, flyers, stickers and t-shirts with four slogans printed in large black and white letters on a red background: "Some people are gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans. Get over it!" The campaign was born thanks to the work of Bruno Moroni, supported by many volunteers, and the collaboration with the English association Stonewall, from which the slogan "Some people are gay. Get over it!" was taken, and will be supported online by the website www.NoOmofobia.it.
The slogan is aimed directly at homophobes and those who hypocritically claim to be supportive of gay, lesbian, and transgender people, yet then hinder them from achieving their rights and full equality. It's a deliberately harsh slogan that invites Italians to acknowledge the banality of reality and encourages them to confront and address exclusion, prejudice, and indifference.
“"It's a simple and direct message that contains a precious invitation to respect everyone. It's an unequivocal request we make to those who don't want to engage with this issue. Italians must simply acknowledge that their friend, relative, or neighbor can also be gay, or lesbian, or transgender, that they have the same dignity and should have the same rights. And that all of this benefits society as a whole and is a civilized achievement," explains Flavio Romani, president of Arcigay.
Arcigay, in its local branches, is then involved in dozens of events across the country To raise public awareness. Conferences, debates, flash mobs, bike rides, and even a mini marathon will be held. Specifically, in Ravenna, Arcigay will officially meet with UNAR, the National Office Against Racial Discrimination, for the presentation of the National Arcigay Campaign against Homotransphobia and a debate on "Active Combating Bullying and Discrimination: Experience in Schools. Proposals for the Future" at 5:00 p.m.
Arcigay will meet with Senate President Pietro Grasso on May 17th..
“It will be the occasion – explains Flavio Romani – for finally ask that the extension of the Mancino Law to homophobic and transphobic crimes be finally scheduled. Parliamentarians must take responsibility for voting for or against violence against gays, lesbians, and transgender people. We want this May 17th to be the last without a law.
