Baseball bats, shouts, and anti-LGBTQ graffiti at the Gay Center headquarters.

Mazza da baseball, grida e scritte contro LGBT+ alla sede di Gay Center

A real escalation of intimidating acts occurred in Rome, aimed at Gay Center, home of the Gay Help Line 800 713 713, and to LGBT+ people, as visible in the video.
For months, some very young people have been responsible for sudden raids on the association's headquarters, writing homophobic and transphobic insults, and even threatening and insulting volunteers and users. This has led to the latest two incidents, which were also caught on camera in recent days, one where they came with a baseball bat and they hit it against the Rainbow wall causing damage, during business hours, and another episode where they They shouted "Froc*i" (queers), used smoke bombs and defaced the sidewalk. at the entrance to the headquarters, with homophobic and transphobic graffiti.

Attacks that clearly show signs of homophobic, lesbian, and transphobic hatred, carried out in groups. A pattern we're increasingly seeing on the streets of our country. This time, they targeted the Gay Center, a center for the protection and support of LGBT+ people. The initial reaction was fear, at the thought of being the victims of a direct attack.

The second is a cause for concern, because these acts are the result of a public discourse that increasingly incites hatred towards those who continue to be labeled as "different" and therefore the target of violence.
This confirms the urgency and importance of including education on affectivity and respect in educational curricula, as Gay Center has repeatedly requested by launching a specific petition.

We have filed a complaint with the police and therefore hope that the people responsible will be identified soon.

As an association committed to educational projects in schools and anti-discrimination services such as Gay Help Line (toll-free number 800713713) We therefore ask that the graffiti be removed and we appeal to the Minister Valditara to invest in courses against discrimination against LGBT+ people, so that these behaviors can be prevented and every place of protection for LGBT+ people can continue to be a safe place for participation.

Alessandra Rossi, Gay Help Line Coordinator 800 713 713, for Gay Center

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