An entirely internal political clash within the center-right on LGBTQ+ rights. Once again the Pride of Palermo sparks controversy within the coalition that leads the Sicilian capital. Since when Roberto Lagalla has been elected mayor, the demonstration in favor of LGBTQ+ rights is now the occasion for an internal feud. Even more so this year which took place shortly after the local elections, where the numbers in the centre-right team were all in favor of Forza Italiawhich a Palermo it obtained 19.52 against Fdi’s 16.44 and the very low 3.74 of the League. Those who spoke out against the demonstration were, not surprisingly, Carolina Varchi And Sabina Figuccia, the first by Fdi and the second by the League. Varchi, former deputy mayor and MP from Melonia, launched the controversy with a vitriolic post, a real message aimed at the centre-right exponents present at the demonstration: “Pride is now an ideological manifestation of the left. I guarantee to the representatives of the center-right coalition and the organizers who will participate that none of Pride’s demands will ever become law, just as we promised our voters when we stood for election. Indeed, we are working on measures that go in a direction contrary to LGBT ideology, such as the establishment of the universal crime of surrogacy.”
“Varchi threatens his people and not only his own, no Pride demands will ever become law, he says in a note that already has the flavor of “very sweet” punitive and racial laws. While at the same time he reduces everything to the sole issue of surrogacy,” he responds immediately Albanian Mari of the national assembly of the Democratic Party.
But the ex-vice mayor’s attacks were aimed above all at her allies. In fact, at Saturday’s demonstration, one of the most well-attended in recent times, two municipal councilors were present, Maurizo Carta and Fabrizio Ferrandelliand the mayor himself Roberto Lagalla. This is nothing new for the mayor who, when he was rector of the University of Palermo, gave his patronage to the event, now more than ten years ago. An event in Palermo born way back in 2009, thanks to the push of Luigi Carollo, who passed away only two months ago, and who over the years has had the patronage not only of the university but also of the Municipality and the Region. “Where human rights are at stake, there is no space for politics”, is how Lagalla responded to the controversies launched by Varchi. And resumed from Sabina Figuccia, group leader in the League’s city council: “I don’t understand how Pride can be celebrated as a demonstration for everyone’s rights, when it is completely clear that rights have nothing to do with it. It is a demonstration that I would define as picturesque and decidedly out of place because the rights of all those who would not want to witness what often border on the crime of “obscene acts in a public place” are often violated.
He doesn’t agree though Edy Tamajoregional councilor of Forza Italia, who in the last European elections obtained more than 121 thousand votes, being the most voted among the Sicilian candidates, according to Tamayo who wanted to thank the organizers, Pride “is a fundamental moment to claim the rights of all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or any other personal characteristic. It is a celebration for a more equal community and a call for equality and social justice. An opportunity to reiterate that every person must be free to live their life without discrimination and with equal opportunities.” “It is a conflict entirely within the centre-right and if it is nice to see the mayor taking part in the demonstration as he has always done, it is certainly sad to witness a political clash that has nothing to do with rightsconsumed on the skin of a community that still suffers violence and discrimination,” he says Sergio Lima of the Democratic Party.
