Bologna, May 17, 2022 – “Without a doubt, the most eloquent image the last twelve months have provided us with regarding homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and aphobia is that of the dozens of senators of the Republic who, without restraint, celebrated the defeat of a law against hate crimes on October 27th,” said Gabriele Piazzoni, secretary general of Arcigay. He continues: "On the International Day for the Elimination of Hate and Discrimination on the Ground of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, it would be desirable for every speech to be delivered with that image clearly in mind. Once the anger has subsided, the emergency remains in a country where discrimination, ridicule, hatred, and violence can count on the explicit and manifest legitimacy of the majority of the ruling class. That segment of Parliament has much in common, regardless of intentions, with the protagonists of the stories we've seen in the news in recent months: neighbors who harass gay couples, youth gangs who fight over a hat, a bag, or a piece of nail polish, vandals who deface rainbow-colored benches, parents (still too many) who beat and punish their homosexual and transgender sons and daughters.".
In the last twelve months, Arcigay has recorded 126 episodes of homophobic and transphobic hatred reported by the mass media, 65 in the north, 38 in the centre, 23 in the south and on the islands.."These numbers are a kind of shadow," Piazzoni continues, "a crack of light through which we glimpse only a part of the phenomenon, which we still perceive as largely hidden because it is deeply rooted. These numbers must be read keeping in mind two factors: the pandemic and the aftermath of the lockdown on the one hand, and the debate over the law against homophobia on the other, which have worked in opposite directions: while the discussion over the law exacerbated social conflict, as always happens when rights are debated, the pandemic has compressed that conflict into homes, removing it not only from public view but also from help and support. In this sense, it must make us reflect first and foremost. the fact that 37 of the 126 episodes recorded concern boys and girls under 20. Not only that: over the past year, institutions and experts have regularly raised alarms regarding the surge in domestic violence, particularly homophobic and transphobic violence; the spread of bullying; and the rise of eating disorders among younger generations. It's important to note, in this regard, that in recent weeks, anti-discrimination help desks are being launched in numerous Italian cities, serving precisely to resurface all the requests for help that the pandemic has further pushed into invisibility.
“"And in Parliament they applaud" is the slogan of the social media campaign launched by Arcigay for May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, and Aphobia. Faced with the shameful applause in the Senate that marked the interruption of the parliamentary process of the bill to prevent and combat discrimination related to sexual orientation and gender identity, the association wanted to focus attention on the shocking data that emerged. from the latest research by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on the situation in our country, so that it is clear that while some of our politicians are celebrating, millions of people remain without protection. The campaign materials are available at this link.
Report-omolesbobitransphobia-2022-Foglio1.pdf