#luchino thinkpieces

[corvidcantina]

We might not know what happened in Patras with the Contrabbandieri and how the hell they got to know Luchino, but what we do know for sure is that Luchino is a people person and makes friends easily: he immediately hugged Niccolò when he talked about offering them breakfast and he clicked instantaneously with Dr Spera

[corvidcantina]

Amore mio, comunque vada

A thinkpiece. Or, rather, a rant. Not any good, probably, but you might be interested.

Some of you might not know this, but Buon Viaggio was an earworm in Italy last summer. As it happens, people mostly like an earworm the first few times they hear it. From that moment on, it's war. I am no exception to this rule, and after the first week of only ever hearing Buon Viaggio I started to hate it.

Fast forward to October (if I'm not mistaken) and my girlfriend told me about Skam. Ok then. Seem interesting. Let's watch one episode. Then another one. Then, needless to say, I got hooked.

Fast forward to the blessed 2x8 and the Contrabbandieri and Niccolò are singing Buon Viaggio, Niccolò to Martino and viceversa and Gio, Elia and Luchino all together. Cute. The earworm returns. But it was too beautiful of a scene to be mad because they had made me remember a song I thought I had gotten over with.

Now, just yesterday I took the underground to meet my girlfriend. I go around with a Pride pin on my backpack. It's barely noticeable from a great distance, but it's there. And if I feel stares coming from the people in my immediate surroundings, I start to plan an escape route, just in case someone decides to be an asshole.

Now, there was this guy - very very probably a skinhead. And he kept staring at me.

Only after I remembered, I had just dyed my hair blue. Noticeable, then. Bright and captivating. But I swear, I have never feared so much for my safety.

And there, as an odd though coming from nowhere, it struck me - amore mio, comunque vada. My love, however it goes.

Because I may fear repercussions for my sexuality, and I feel that my fears are justified. Italy has breathtaking sceneries and majestic artworks, but it hasn't a really wide acceptance for LGBT+ people - though it's gotten better in later years. (Even if I don't know what will happen now that our vice-premier is openly homophobic. But I digress.) The point is - as Filippo Sava ever so truthfully put it, because there is a rise in fascism supporters in Italy and it shouldn't happen but there is and we have to make clear they are not welcome before it's too late, but that's a discussion for another time - the fascisti di merda will always be here (especially with this government, which seems to hate on everything that's not white, male, straight and catholic) but our love will too. However it will go.

I am angry. I am scared. But I exist, too, and I am better with words than with actions. So I will continue to go around with my pride pin on the backpack, with my bright hair and with my will to fight back, be it through minuscule actions too. Because one year ago I wouldn't have dared. Because I am growing bolder. Because minuscule actions are sometimes what others need to notice, and to notice that it's okay, that they can do whatever they want too. That they can be bold. That they can be daring. That they can fight back. That they can exist without having to apologize for it.

I am not saying I am - or should be - an example. There are better people. I am saying that being as visible as possible is my way to fight back. Have I learnt from Filippo Sava? Maybe. Have I learnt from friends of mine who have never been afraid to show who they are? Definitely.

Am I ready to love, however it goes? I will be afraid, I know I will. I am not glorifying my experience, I am trying to prove a point. (Well, actually more than one, but if you've read at least one of my stories you surely know I go off on tangents and I never know when to stop). But I feel I am ready.