Naples Pride kicks off Saturday

(ANSA) - Naples, June 23 - Naples Mediterranean Pride kicks off Saturday June 28 in an afternoon parade with city officials, and celebrities, while tying in social media interaction to create a broad-reaching event.
    Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris, actress Giulianna de Sio, former Olympic athletes from the Mille Colori association, and labor union representatives will lead a 3pm parade from Piazza Dante through the city center. Participants from around the world are encouraged to partake in the parade by submitting photos via social networks which will then be broadcast on various platforms.
    "Naples once again proves to be a city of welcome and it always wants maintain that it must be a place of rights and peace. We want to become a point of reference not only for Europe but also for Africa and Asia", said de Magistris.
    "Naples is the city in heart of the Mediterranean in regards to the rights of LGBT people and on Saturday we will claim those rights which have not yet been acquired by gay, lesbian and trans citizens. We want to ask the administration to work to ensure that these rights can be obtained as soon as possible", Antonello Sannino, event spokesperson said.
    The Mediterranean Pride of Naples event, organized by Coordinamento Campania Rainbow (regional LGBT organization) and the City Naples, is part of the larger 'pride wave', Italian National Pride Day with events in cities including Catania, Milan, Perugia, Bologna, Palermo and Venice.