We have now entered the month of Pride, the event that celebrates the equality of homosexual, bisexual, transgender and generally those who identify with a minority gender identity or sexual orientation.

Precisely in June 2023, the Pride wave returns to make itself felt throughout Italy with a series of events promoted by associations and the Italian LGBTQIA+ movement. It is a true celebration of freedom of expression, a way to express one's personality, to show oneself to society by standing together against the standards that characterise society.

The Pride calendar includes appointments from north to south along the entire peninsula, including stops in major cities such as Milan, Rome, Bologna, Turin, Naples, but also Parma, Florence, Verona, Como and many others. The events planned are truly the most varied, from the famous parades to musical evenings and live shows. If you are looking for an accommodation in or near the Pride city, check out DoveVivo, which offers many flats in many locations in Italy.

But when was Pride born? Let's take a leap back in time to the so-called Stonewall Riots: on 28 June 1969, the patrons of a gay bar in Greenwich Village in New York rebelled against a police raid. The following year, on the same date, there was a commemoration of that event, attended by hundreds of people, so that it can be considered the first Gay Pride in history.

Over the years it has grown bigger and bigger and spread to different countries, so let's take a look at some of the main Pride events in Rome, Bologna and Turin in favour of the civil rights of the whole community it represents and the allies who support it.

Gay Pride in Rome

Rome is a complex and multifaceted city. For example, being the home of the Vatican, it is subject to strict religious beliefs and traditions, but in June it hosts a variety of events and becomes a major LGBTQIA+ scene in Pride month.

The first Pride Parade in Rome was in June 1994 and since then the process has never stopped, although it initially developed slowly. In addition, the first WorldPride was hosted in Rome in 2000 and was celebrated with a week-long festival that attracted and attracted the attention of gay activists from some 40 countries.

Again in 2011, Rome was the scene of EuroPride and hosted many people including the star Lady Gaga. This consolidated Rome Pride as one of the European benchmarks for LGBTQIA+ events.

But let's take a look at the Rome Pride events this June 2023.

Rome Pride events

The Pride Wave will make itself felt on various dates and with various events throughout the month, starting from the very first days of June, but there are a few events that are considered central and that capture most of the attention.

• Rome Pride Parade: the parade is the most important and main feature of the entire event. Scheduled for Saturday 10 June 2023, the parade will start at 3 pm from Piazza della Repubblica (easily reached by metro line A - Repubblica stop). It will be a parade of colourful floats, DJs and dancers who will animate the streets of the Eternal City to the cry of civil rights and freedom of expression;
• Rock Me Pride: also on Saturday 10 June, after the parade there will be the Roma Pride After Party, an evening show starting at 8 pm at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle, a sort of 'Queer Woodstock' with more than 50 artists ready to perform;
• Splash: the night party at the Cinecittà World water park scheduled from 19:00 to 2:00 on 10 June;
• GIAM Circuit Party: one of the biggest gay parties hosted in Rome, also on Saturday night at the EUR Social Park;
• MANicomio: from 23:30 on Saturday 10 June until the following day, one of the craziest parties. An 11-hour music marathon with various DJs and guests will be held at Frutta e Verdura Club;
• Feste gay di strada: on Via San Giovanni in Laterano, after the parade, parties and special events will begin in gay bars and clubs that will continue late into the night.

In addition, from 2 June, every day from 6 p.m. at the Garden of the Baths of Trajan, La Pride Croisette a review of music, art, shows scheduled throughout the week. For all information see the Roma Pride website.

Gay Pride in Bologna

The first Pride in Bologna took place on 2 July 1995, the year after the one in Rome. Ten thousand people took to the streets, including the mayor of the city and the vice president of the European Parliament, as they were in favour of recognising the rights of gay couples.

Year after year, Bologna remained active and became one of the reference cities in the LGBTQIA+ movement, even pioneering the formula and recognition of 'affective families' in 1999. In 2008, Bologna hosted the national Pride, an event that returned in June 2012.

This year, the official day of the Bologna Pride is 1 July 2023, but over time it has become an increasingly widespread and popular event. In fact, it is not limited to that one day, but events and demonstrations are scheduled throughout Pride Week: meetings, music, art, book presentations, film screenings and documentaries.

The Bologna Pride Parade will start from the historic centre, home of the Cassero, and will cross the city's main and most iconic streets, such as Via Zamboni to the Giardini Margherita. This location will host speeches by the various associations and concerts.

As of today, the entire programme has not yet been officially defined, but continue to stay informed on the official Instagram page of Rivolta Pride for details of the events.

Gay Pride in Turin

Turin is the city where many of the main cultural initiatives for gay civil rights, such as the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, were born and pioneered. It was here that the first international lesbian convention in Italy was held, and the first public consultation centre for sexual reconversion surgery.

The first Pride in Turin, in the form in which we know it today, took place in 2006, the year in which the city also hosted the National Pride. From that moment on, Torino Pride was born, a movement that brings together the Pride organising associations and provides coordination.

The Turin Pride Parade 2023 is scheduled for Saturday 17 June with the slogan 'Broken heels and yet you have to go' and will follow a slightly different route than usual. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 16:00 in Corso Vercelli before starting at 16:30 and proceeding in the direction of Valentino Park where the arrival is scheduled for about 19:30/20:00.

After the parade, starting at 20:30, the Official Pride Party begins at the Centralino Club, first in the courtyards and then continuing in the club's interior. Until 10.30 p.m. there will be food stations. After 10 p.m., dancing and fun will continue to the rhythm of music until late at night.

But let's also discover the events that accompany and anticipate the parade.

Turin Pride events

Even in Turin, the Pride wave occupies the whole week with many appointments and events. Here are the ones you can attend to start preparing and warming up for the parade:

• Saturday 10 June, 8 pm, Delirio, @CAP 10100, Corso Moncalieri, 18 (reservations required)
• Saturday 10 June, 11.00 pm, Qimanji, @Ganas, Via San Paolo, 169;
• Sunday 11 June, 11am-7pm, LeznMore Market, Strada dei Tadini, 47/12;
• Sunday 11 June, h 21:00, La Madre Torino, @The Beach;
• Thursday 15 June, 7:30 pm, Portafortuna, @Bauhaus;
• Friday 16 June, h 23:00, Bananamia, @Centralino.

Throughout the event there will be volunteer staff ready to offer support and assistance, there will be quiet areas for those in need, water points, buses to facilitate transport for those who feel the need, and many other services. To find out more about the organisation and events, visit the Turin Pride website.

The most colourful and effervescent party of the year is about to begin!