In the evening, Mayor Franz Caruso took part in the final phases of Cosenza Pride 2024. The highlight of the event, which was well attended and attracted many people from other regions of Italy, was the colorful procession that unfolded starting from 5pm through the main streets of the city centre, from Piazza Loreto, where the rally was scheduled, to Piazza dei Bruzi where, in a particularly festive atmosphere, speeches took place, among others, by Alessandra Lucanto, president of Arcigay Cosenza, of the national president of ArciGay Natascia Maesi, of the mayor Franz Caruso and of the group leader of the PD in the city council Francesco Alimena.
Mayor Franz Caruso welcomed the LGBTQIA+ community and all the participants, underlining that “the city of Cosenza, rich in civilization, defense of the rights of all, the democratic, open, progressive Cosenza, the socialist Cosenza, greets everyone the participants in Cosenza Pride 202″, an event thanks to which and for which today we have written an important page that belongs to our tradition of an inclusive and supportive city. Francesco Alimena says it well – continued Franz Caruso – when he states that a wound has been healed. A wound that our municipal administration has taken steps to heal little by little.”
And the mayor recalled what happened in 2017. “The Administration of the time – remarked Franz Caruso – refused to sponsor Pride. We, after years of obscurantism, have not only granted our patronage, but we have gone much further, signing, on the occasion of the International Day against Homotransphobia which was celebrated on May 17th, the political manifesto of Cosenza Pride 2024 with the which examines a series of requests that have been brought to the attention of the municipal administration. The signature that we have placed on this important document, which was submitted to us by Arcigay Cosenza, which I thank for the organization of Cosenza Pride 2024, together with all the other acronyms that are part of the committee and that have made the realization of the The event is not – added Franz Caruso – an eminently formal event, but represents a further step in the path that the Administration led by me has undertaken since its inauguration”.
And in this regard, Mayor Franz Caruso recalled the date of 7 July 2022, “when I celebrated – he said – the civil union between Eugenia and Raffaella, in the reception hall of the municipal house which was festively decorated for the occasion. It was a very significant and very important moment – the mayor reiterated – because he once again testified to the true nature of our city. The people of Cosenza have a profoundly free, democratic and progressive spirit which today has the opportunity to reaffirm itself and manifest itself in all its strength. Cosenza is an emancipated and avant-garde city, ready to look to the future, respecting each and every one, in order to continue on the path of defending rights and freedoms, to stem prejudices and hostility of all kinds”.
“Of course, what we are going through together – Franz Caruso was keen to underline – is not a downhill road. Far from it. It is a road still paved with obstacles and asperities and which in many situations also becomes tortuous. Proof of this is the highly discriminatory conduct against the LGBTQIA+ community, which, as the not very encouraging statistics of the last year indicate, unfortunately continue to give a more worrying picture due to the spread, in our society, of which make homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia perceived as still very widespread phenomena”.
“But, if the road is uphill – said Franz Caruso forcefully – our municipal administration – and today’s demonstration amply bears witness to this – is alongside the LGBTQIA+ community, fully sharing the battle undertaken in support of the claims it brings forward to practice and implement egalitarian and non-discriminatory policies and laws of people who belong to the same community. Our Administration has, since its inauguration, expressed opposition to every form of discrimination and stubbornly reaffirms the vocation of the city of Cosenza which is openly tolerant, inclusive, plural, democratic and always fighting for the recognition of the rights of everyone, no one excluding”.
Then the mayor recalled some passages of what he had anticipated a few days ago in the press conference presenting the event. “There can be no differentiation, distinction or discrimination. What we are all carrying on together is a cultural and civilizational battle that we must continue, without any hesitation, to make the country united, unlike those who voted for differentiated autonomy overnight. Cosenza cannot retreat and with Cosenza neither can Calabria. Instead, we must move forward and support the battles that unite us and eliminate discrimination, of whatever nature it may be. We recognize equal rights for everyone, so that everyone has equal opportunities in our community.”
Before concluding his speech Franz Caruso recalled another historical moment and “which saw as protagonists – he underlined – on the one hand the founder of the national Arcigay, Franco Grillini, and on the other the parliamentarian from Cosenza, later enlightened mayor of the city of Cosenza, Giacomo Mancini. It was 1985 and in Rocca Imperiale – as Franz Caruso recalled – the arrival of a group of gay tourists, in a seaside campsite, sparked, probably behind a well-orchestrated direction, almost a popular revolt. Giacomo Mancini immediately took sides to defend the freedom of those people, guilty of nothing other than arriving in Rocca Imperiale at a time when the fear of AIDS was spreading. The Honorable Mancini then wanted to open a public meeting on that case in Cosenza. It took place at the Chamber of Commerce and recorded four hours of intense debate. That episode was not forgotten by Franco Grillini who, upon arriving in Cosenza (it was June 2003, 21 years ago) brought a floral tribute to the tomb of Giacomo Mancini, who had passed away a year earlier, placing a wreath on the tombstone. laurel with a tricolor band and the writing A grateful memory from the friends of Gay Pride. That year the Gay Pride took place in Bari and was dedicated to the memory of Giacomo Mancini. I wanted to remember this episode – concluded Franz Caruso – to underline that, in the wake of a great socialist, today, as a socialist and as Mayor of the city of Cosenza, I am proud to have hosted the Cosenza pride 2024 and I express my great satisfaction because from Cosenza the voice of those who rightly claim the protection of sacrosanct rights that we share and which we will not miss the opportunity to reiterate and reaffirm rises loudly”.
Original article
