HOMOPHOBIA | COUPLE INTIMIDATED ON THE BEACH
On Sunday, June 30, a woman in her forties filed a complaint two girls intent on taking romantic selfies to stop and move away immediately, given the presence of children.
The events occurred in the free beach area of Sejore ditch between Pesaro and Fano, to be precise at the height of the Marinella campsite. The woman was at the seaside with her family, a woman and a man, possibly her husband, a teenager, and three children under ten. The incidents were reported to the Gay Help Line 800 713 713, a toll-free number for victims of homophobia and transphobia, which receives over 21,000 reports each year.
Throughout the afternoon the woman continued to speak loudly and point at the two girls, who were sitting under the umbrella next to each other, disturbing the other beachgoers. But He only poured out his hatred on the couple when the beach was empty., thus being able to count on the absence of witnesses. At sunset the two girls had stopped to take selfies: they were hugging when the woman drew their attention asking them "the courtesy" to stop because the children were watching and laughing. The requests for respect made by the girls were to no avail and none of those present intervened in defense of the girls.
“When the lady approached, we didn't think she could unleash so much anger and indignation on us: we weren't doing anything that could motivate her disapproval. We were experiencing the sunset together, like any other couple. At the time, we responded in kind, acting indifferent, but we were very hurt., we are hurt and disappointed. It's absurd that in 2024, incidents like this still happen: If there had been a straight couple in our place, this wouldn't have happened. We won't change beaches for people like this lady., ”We will continue to go there” – say the girls who contacted the Gay Help Line 800 713 713 to find out how to protect themselves in case a similar episode happens again.
“In situations like these, prejudice takes over and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* people, even showing themselves, manifesting their relationships in public becomes a risk – Alessandra Rossi, coordinator of the Gay Help Line, a national contact center against homophobia, states 800713713. – At the base of the pyramid of hate is intolerance: every time behavior like the woman's is legitimized, the feeling of rejection that leads to violence is strengthened. June is Pride Month, the month in which the visibility of LGBTQIA+ people becomes a tool to fight for their rights: In the last few days there has been an increase in reports of homophobic and transphobic attacks, such as the two girls beaten during the Naples Pride parade, or discrimination in public places, the latest of which, again collected by Gay Help Line, occurred in a restaurant in Ancona, where a girl was loudly called an "ugly lesbian" after a confrontation with the manager. This is why it's also important to work on awareness-raising initiatives, beyond the need for a law against homophobia and transphobia.“
The Gay Help Line 800 713 713 service is supported by UNAR – Presidency of the Council, Lazio Region, Municipality of Rome, of the 8×1000 funds of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai and the Waldensian Church.
