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JULY 2020 ARCIGAY CATANIA
An intense month for civil rights in Catania and its province.
On July 4, 2020, the Arcigay Catania board of directors was renewed.
Armando Caravini (former president of the Syracuse committee) replaces the outgoing president, Giovanni Caloggero, and the previous board members. Vera Navarria (writer and LGBT activist) is elected vice president, and Emanuele Liotta (formerly the outgoing vice president) is elected secretary. The following directors are elected and reappointed: Antonio Ferrarotto, Francesco Zappalà, Lele Russo, Ambra Monterosso, Andrea Annaro, Giovanni Abbatelli, Giuseppe Reale, and Giuseppe "Otello" Cacisi.
The approval of the Zan bill currently being debated in the Chamber of Deputies is a top priority and a heartfelt priority. This bill protects and punishes those who incite misogynistic and homophobic hatred. Arcigay Catania and its representatives are organizing a flash mob in Piazza Duomo to put an end to hatred and intolerance.
On July 12th, the "Marielle Franco" Women's Group held a peaceful demonstration at Villa Bellini. It was a Sunday of games, color, and socializing.
The watchword is this: “let's get to know each other”, sociality is the cornerstone of peace.
The "Proud Families" group, which kept in touch through WhatsApp chat during the COVID-19 lockdown and met for the first time since reopening on June 5th, continued its meetings in July on July 3rd at the CGIL headquarters. On July 24th, the group met again at the CGIL headquarters, at the request of a mother, to celebrate the arrival in Catania of her daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.,
The Culture group met on July 9th and 16th to develop a calendar of activities to plan after the summer break (which will last through August). Continuing its "cultural" approach to the roots and underpinnings of amorous, lesbian, bisexual, and transphobic violence, the group has chosen to continue its self-education on these topics, planning a calendar of meetings—open to the public—for the fall. of peer training.
Prejudice dies hard, as does hatred. A few days later, unpleasant news arrives: a young woman from Caltagirone is verbally and physically attacked by a group of her peers because she is a lesbian. She is undaunted and proudly responds:
”I AM PROUD TO BE A LESBIAN!”
The news has had a huge impact. Arcigay Catania has rallied around the victim and offered her full support.
On July 14th, a meeting took place between our representatives and the mayor of Caltagirone, Gino Ioppolo, and his councilors. The concepts were clear and shared by both parties: "human respect" was paramount, along with solidarity and the need to agree on joint projects, especially for schools.
And there is still much to do.
Arcigay Catania[:]