Civil unions: One million people took to the streets a year ago for #Svegliatitalia.

Bologna, January 23, 2017 – “A year ago, a million people, in over a hundred Italian cities and several foreign capitals, took to the streets shouting “Wake up Italy!” to signal to Parliament, which was busy debating the civil unions bill in those weeks, the goal of equality for all,” recalls Gabriele Piazzoni, National Secretary of Arcigay. He continues: "That mobilization, launched by a broad coalition of LGBTI associations, gave us the testimony of a country that doesn't want to be left behind, that is convinced that an additional right is a blessing for everyone. From Aosta to Ragusa, from Cagliari to Venice, and from London, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Boston, we received a clear signal of an extraordinary collective voice, which did not end on that day nor did it give up in the weeks that followed, faced with the cuts and approximations that the civil unions law suffered during its approval. Today we want to celebrate this anniversary, we want to celebrate every right we fought for, and we want to fully experience the satisfaction of all those people who, thanks to that battle, can now have a different, better life. But above all, we want to celebrate that mobilization because it is still alive, because it set itself the goal of every right that is still lacking. We therefore ask for the adoption law to be reformed, as had been promised. And for the discussion on equal marriage to be opened. Likewise, It is urgent to legislate against homophobia and transphobia and, more generally, to make effective the laws aimed at combating hate crimes and speech, in a country that is suffering from hatred. And it is precisely on this front that Italy must remain vigilant, ready to mobilize and take to the streets its rejection of a model that marginalizes and oppresses not only LGBTI people, but also women, migrants, ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, the poor, and the elderly. Every opportunity is useful and must be seized to reaffirm the horizon of rights, starting next March 8th with the national women's strike, yet another act of rebellion against the widespread gender-based violence that updates the list of femicides almost daily. And we will return to the streets again for the Pride season, even more rich and necessary this year. There is a large and combative segment of the country that is thirsty for rights and that politicians have a duty to listen to,“ concludes Piazzoni.