Stop gay pride, Lucca doesn’t want youis the writing that appeared on flyers hanging on Luccaafter the announcement that the Tuscan city will host the Tuscany Pride 2024. The far-right movement claimed responsibility for the action Patriots Network that: “Would like to remind the organizers of this ridiculous, vulgar and provocative event, that the city of Lucca is firmly linked to its Catholic roots and to the values of traditional family”, we read on the organisation’s website, according to which “the sideshow that will parade in the city on September 7th, flaunting grotesque attitudes and absurd demands, will be a challenge against the good taste and common sense of the people of Lucca”.
The response from the organizers of Toscana Pride was immediate and they were not discouraged and continued with the organisation: “We are there and will always be there where Pride is needed most. Today more than ever, we are determined to invade the streets of Lucca with our bodies, our fabulousness and our fagotism”, they write in a statement. “We may be uncomfortable and inappropriate for some, but we will always be indomitable and proud for all those people who will be next to us on September 7th at Tuscany Pride to tell those who don’t want us that there is no place for hate here”.
Meanwhile Monia Marcacci, spokesperson for Toscana Pride, states to the local press: “We didn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms and a more right-wing section expressed discontent, but there is a good, very welcoming counterpart. These aggressive flyers do not belong to us, the anger with which we demand rights is joyful, intersectional. These posters don’t scare us, on the contrary they motivate us even more, they give us the right choice by choosing Lucca”.
Controversy, however, also over the statements of the mayor of Lucca, Mario Pardini (centre-right), who did not appreciate the choice of date: “I have already expressly communicated this to the organisers: the date of 7 September is profoundly unfortunate and wrong. We are just a few days away from procession of the Holy Cross“, he declared to the Journal of Lucca. The concern would be given by the high turnout of people during September in Lucca and therefore an overlap of events in the city, which will also influence the areas for the parade planned for the Pride: “In the current state of things, some areas such as Piazza Napoleone and Piazza San Michele are not usable”, continues Pardini, “the same applies to that portion of the walls which will be affected by the Murabilia stands. We leave it to the choices that will be made by the Police Headquarters. I find this decision by the organizers unfortunate.”
In reality, this year’s Pride has been moved to September, instead of June or July, due to a coincidence of events in the Lucca summer. And the event receives full support from the regional councilor for equal opportunities Tuscany regionAlessandra Nardini: “This makes it even more important to be there, to demonstrate, to say loud and clear that Tuscany remains an open, plural, anti-fascist land, that Tuscany stands on the side of rights and against any form of discrimination and prejudice”.
