The Rome LGBTQ+ Pride parade celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday, June 15, 2024, with tens of thousands marching in brightly colored outfits through the streets of Rome. The participants waved banners, danced, and sang to mark gay rights.
Many attendees used signs and banners to make fun of recent comments by Pope Francis. The Pope had apologized last month after a reported comment where he used the term “faggotness” during a meeting. This term re-emerged in a meeting with Rome priests.
Signs included statements like “Attention, from here on high levels of faggotry” and “there is too much faggotry in this parade,” carried by individuals dressed in humorous costumes.
Elly Schlein, the leader of Italy's main opposition party and a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, participated by dancing on a float. Her stance contrasts with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party opposes marriage equality, adoption by gay parents, and surrogate pregnancies.
Notably, the parade also mocked Gen. Roberto Vannacci, a new parliament member for the right-wing League party, for his controversial book deemed offensive to women, gays, and Blacks. One sign commented on his views, suggesting he had never met seminarians of Pope Francis.
The event highlights ongoing tensions and differing views on LGBTQ+ rights within Italy.