Giarre
The Crime of Giarre: A Story of Homophobia and Discrimination
On October 31, 1980, a double murder was committed in Giarre, in the province of Catania, remaining one of the most controversial cases in Italian history. Giorgio Agatino Giammona, 25 years old, and Antonio Galatola, 15 years old, were found dead, hand in hand, killed by a gunshot each to the head. Everyone in Giarre knew them, as their relationship was open and known as that of "i ziti" (the boyfriends). Giorgio was openly gay and was called, in a derogatory sense, "purpu 'ccô bullu" in the Sicilian language.
The crime immediately revealed its homophobic matrix, as the cameras that arrived on the scene clashed with the omertà of the town, intimidated by the idea of being associated with the story of a homosexual couple. The investigations led to the identification of a culprit, Francesco Messina, but the young man claimed that the two had threatened him with death, forcing him to kill them.
The Cultural Influence of the Crime of Giarre
Despite the lack of definitive solutions to the case, the crime of Giarre had an impact nationally and internationally. This event led to the creation of the first Fuori! collective of eastern Sicily and, a month later in Palermo, to the founding of Arcigay, the first section of Arci dedicated to gay culture, which soon spread throughout Italy. Furthermore, even the first Sicilian lesbian collective 'Le Papesse' was born as a result of the Giarre crime.
The crime of Giarre effectively sowed the seeds for the birth of the contemporary Italian homosexual movement, following the first experiences of associationism made in Rome in the 1960s. The event had a significant impact on the society of the time, contributing to the need to officially recognize the existence of discrimination against homosexual people.
Conclusion
In summary, the crime of Giarre represented a turning point for the rights of homosexual people in Italy. This event highlighted the need for greater awareness on LGBT+ issues in Italian society, leading to the creation of various organizations and associations for the defense of LGBTQIA+ rights. Today, although there are still many steps to be taken, our country is making significant progress in the fight against discrimination of the rights of sexual and gender minorities, and all these victories have been possible thanks to movements like those founded following the crime of Giarre.
