AGI – 30 years of gay pride they all feel today for the streets of Rome, more crowded than ever from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. As at the center of this parade there are not only rights, but also the strong presence of pro-Palestine signs and those that make fun of Pope Francis’ words from a few days ago. The music at full volume, the floats, and hundreds of people on foot are struggling to cross Via Merulana, in a procession that is struggling to advance and which will have to reach the Baths of Caracalla.
The organizers: “We are one million”
“We are more than a million” said the organizers from the float that opens the Rome Pride parade and which hosts the secretary of the PD Elly Schlein and the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri. “Giorgia can you hear us?”, they shouted from the float, announcing that the last of the parade had only just left from Piazza della Repubblica.
Schlein and Gualtieri with the rainbow band on the float
Over a million participants in Rome Pride. This is what the organizers say from the float hosting the spokesperson Mario Colamarino, Elly Schlein and the mayor of Rome Gualtieri, who is wearing the rainbow sash for the occasion. Disco music explodes the crowd which, despite the high temperatures, has been coloring the streets of Rome since 3pm this afternoon. The secretary of the Democratic Party danced from the Roma Pride float to the major dance hits that are enlivening the parade.
The procession arrives at Caracalla
After having colored the streets of Rome, the Pride parade arrived at the Baths of Caracalla where the speeches of Annalisa, godmother of this 30th edition, and the spokesperson of Rome Pride Mario Colamarino are expected. On the float that opened the parade, Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein followed the entire procession, dancing together with Karma B to the hits chosen to enliven the procession. According to the organizers, more than a million people took to the streets today to celebrate this day of pride with rainbow flags, slogans and sequins. There was no shortage of “Free Palestine” slogans and “bella ciao” chants. Because this, although colorful, remains a political demonstration for everyone’s rights.
The rainbow vases on the Esquiline were defaced by Militia Christi
This night the vases with the colors of the rainbow flag positioned in Piazza dell’Esquilino by the Garden Service of the Environmental Protection Department to greet the Roma Pride which will parade in the city starting from 2.30 pm were defaced by Militia Christi militants.
Sabrina Alfonsi, Councilor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle, reports this in a note: “This morning – declares the citizens of Esquilino and the LGBTQIA+ community – woke up with dirty vases, a way of saying no to Pride. For three years we have greeted the passage of Pride with rainbow vases as a sign of friendship and closeness to the LGBTQIA+ community. Such an act has never happened we strongly reject. The Garden Service staff – concludes Alfonsi – is already working to cover up the writings”.
Elly Schlein dances at Roma Pride
The slogan “30 years of pride”
“30 years of pride” it is the slogan that recalls the road traveled and the direction one intends to continue traveling and is represented by the work of the international Colombian artist Santiago Olivares better known as SakoAsko. The work depicts a majestic tree which represents the LGBTQIA+ community, firm in its roots which continues to grow flourishing despite the attacks and violence suffered throughout its history.
Every axe represents an insult, an immediate attack by those who, in the name of their own cult or retrograde and profoundly conservative ideology, have tried to block the path taken by our community which, although wounded, like that tree continues to move forward and grow united and flourishing.
”This year we celebrate a significant milestone: 30 years of pride, struggle and progress. Our commitment to rights and inclusion continues stronger than ever, in awareness and responsibility of the road traveled by those who preceded us and the long road still to go. We live in a country governed by those who seek to set our community back fifty years. We won’t allow it. We will continue to move forward and fight in the belief of a more just society that leaves no one behind. This manifesto embodies our history, our strength, our determination and our intention to never give up. On June 15th we invite everyone to participate and join the LGBTQIA+ community to remember our 30 years of pride but, above all, to continue fighting for a more equal, just, civil and better future for all” is the invitation of Mario Colamarino, Spokesperson for Roma Pride 2024.
Gualtieri: “The city protagonist of the battles for rights”
“We grant it, for us Rome must be the protagonist of Pride and of all the battles for rights”. From Rome Pride, the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri thus responds to reporters who ask him about the Region’s lack of patronage for the event. “With our rights office – recalls the mayor – we have finally started to involve the community because things should not be imposed from above but thought about together, we are carrying out many initiatives on all fronts and we will continue like this. Then what the others do we care little.”
Route and changes to traffic
From 2pm to 8pm, procession from Piazza della Repubblica to Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, passing along Via Luigi Einaudi, Piazza dei Cinquecento, Via Cavour, Piazza dell’Esquilino, Via Liberiana, Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, Via Merulana, Via Labicana, Piazza del Colosseum, via Celio Vibenna, via di San Gregorio, piazza di Porta Capena.
At 1pm the closure of Piazza della Repubblica, in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Viale Luigi Einaudi begins. At 1.30 pm arrival of the floats in Viale Luigi Einaudi and concentration of participants in Piazza della Repubblica. The arrival of the participants is at 2pm, the procession starts at 4.30pm and the route concerned closes. At 7pm arrival of the procession and gradual reopening to traffic of the streets involved in the event. At 8pm the event ends and the road axes are completely reopened.
Parking bans are foreseen, as well as at the starting and arrival points of the event, also on via Enrico De Nicola (from via Solferino to via Einaudi), via Liberiana and via delle Terme di Diocleziano. Parking bans also on Via Cavour, in the stretch between Via Giolitti and Piazza dell’Esquilino.
As regards public transport, the 13 changes foreseen for public transport lines 3L, 5, 14, 16, 38, 40, 51, 60, 64, 66, 70, 71, 75, 81, 82, 85, 87, 90, 92, 105, 117, 118, 160, 170, 223, 310, 360, 590, 628, 649, 714, 910, H, C2,C3.
