The report comes from Gay Help Line directly from the two young men, who requested psychological and legal support from the service. Other attacks occurred that same weekend. during Milan Pride and Bari Pride, which we have already supported.
Saturday, July 2nd, Naples. In the afternoon, the Pride celebrations, the pride, the visibility of bodies and identities. Then, at night, fear descends on the same streets of the city center. It's 3 a.m. when two gay Roman men, a 26-year-old man and his 29-year-old best friend, are attacked first with words and then with beatings and belts as they walk down the street leading to Piazza del Municipio.
A car with five young men inside approaches, shouting insults: "You rich kids, these shitty faggots." Then suddenly, two of them get out of the car, carrying belts. They quickly approach the two, shouting that they intend to "kick your ass!" and begin violently shoving and hitting them all over their bodies. One grabs the younger boy by his necklace and pulls until he almost chokes him. No one intervenes, then the two boys run away and ask for help from a couple who call the police, but the attackers continue to drive around the square in their car.
“"Yet another assault, yet another attack motivated by the sexual orientation of the two victims, just hours before Pride and in the same square. A punitive attack that makes places and opportunities for visibility less than fully safe for members of the LGBT+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender)." said Pietro Turano, spokesperson for Gay Center.
“"Fortunately, the police officers who intervened were able to understand the homophobic motive, and the two young men were able to file a complaint after visiting the emergency room. In the absence of a law that recognizes specific protections against homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, the process of reporting homophobic and transphobic victims is an uphill battle. In this case, it was possible to identify some of the attackers. Gay Help Line took on the request of the two young men, who live in Rome, supporting them in psychological treatment as they are still in shock, and in the process of seeking legal protection by reporting the incident to the Observatory against Discriminatory Acts by Law Enforcement – OSCAD." Alessandra Rossi, Gay Help Line coordinator, stated.
The two young men we welcomed into the Gay Help Line stated: "We weren't expecting it. We went to Pride to spend an evening of joy, but instead we ended up with moments of fear, which still remain. But we want to react. We thank the two young men who helped us, and the Carabinieri who were sensitive and kind.,
e Gay Help Line that is helping us”.
The Gay Help Line service is supported by Unar, the Lazio Region, the Municipality of Rome Capitale, and the Waldensian Church.