Even in a typically gay-friendly city like Pavia, we're seeing a growing phenomenon of homophobic graffiti defacing walls and buildings in the historic center.
The number of graffiti with offensive content towards the homosexual community is disconcerting, so much so that it is very common to come across one or more of them even while casually walking along some of the streets in the city centre.
Streets where some of this graffiti can be found include Via della Rocchetta, Via Rusconi, Via Capsoni, Via Defendente Sacchi, and Via Mentana. Another area affected is the area around the San Tommaso building and the F. Casorati elementary school.
The insult is usually expressed through infamous epithets, such as “ass”, “faggot” and “queer”, variously accompanied by formulas that mockingly refer to specific sexual habits.
In this regard, Giuseppe Polizzi, founding member and representative of Arcigay Pavia, is calling on the Municipality of Pavia, and especially on the Urban Planning Councillor Fabrizio Fracassi, to launch a campaign to clean up and remove the murals, to further combat the homophobic hatred that is now rampant in all its forms and impoverishing a community that has previously demonstrated commitment and keen attention to protecting minorities and diversity.
