Today we welcomed another boy who, after coming out to his family as gay, was beaten and kicked out in the past few days, first by his father and then by his mother. With a video He wanted to share his story with us. To protect his privacy, we've chosen not to make it public, and to protect his privacy, we'll call him Andrea.
“"It's precisely for kids like Andrea that the Refuge LGBT project must continue! The first family home for young victims of homophobia and transphobia in Italy, opened in 2016, will continue to welcome them in the coming months. boys and girls rejected and separated from their families, young people kicked out of their homes because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”
Thus Pietro Turano – Spokesperson for Gay Center, who adds: "On May 30th, Refuge LGBT could have closed due to the abduction of a partner. This has put the Gay Center in great difficulty. Yet today, thanks to the hundreds of small donations collected, with the support of volunteers, and with the projects that some brands are launching to raise funds for donations, we can announce that the family home will remain open. The facility will continue to welcome victims of homophobia, as it does today with Andrea, 22, who was beaten and kicked out of his home because he is gay. Witness accounts match and confirm the boy's words: “When I told my dad I was gay, he said, ”Enough, I’m tired of you, of all the gay, faggot friends hanging around you. I couldn’t have a life anymore.’ He grabbed his suitcase and kicked me out. When I told my mom the news, she didn’t react well at all. Her partner reacted horribly: he punched me in the ribs, which still hurts a lot, then chased me until I managed to get through a gate, where I found a girl who helped me.”.
However, the project still needs to overcome the emergency: The donations received are essential support, but they're not enough; there's much more to do. What we've done will ensure we don't interrupt a valuable and necessary service: Gay Center will ensure its continuity, with the support of all those who are donating or want to donate and make themselves available. Turano concludes, "Any help is essential right now; you can help us by going to gaycenter.it/refuge