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World Pride in 2000
On this important day which recognizes the human rights work of Martin Luther King, Jr., organizers of World Pride Rome 2000 were given the news that 350 million lira ($180,000) was apportioned by the Comune di Roma to assist in the cultural aspects of the first World Pride event, to take place July 1 to 9, 2000. Imma Battaglia, Board President of Circolo Mario Mieli, a nonprofit association serving the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community of Rome, said, "This money is not only important to create the best possible World Pride event, it is also a symbolic recognition of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community in this Jubilee year. This signals a new era of understanding in a new century and recognizes the hard work that has been done by the board, staff, and volunteers for this event over the last four years." Meetings will continue to be held with the Official Jubilee Committee of the City of Rome (Comune di Roma) to coordinate cultural aspects of the events, the focus of this funding. World Pride Rome 2000 will focus on issues which highlight the cultural, social, political spiritual and human rights aspects of the GLBT community in the new century. World Pride Rome 2000 organizers are working with pride and human rights groups around the world. The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the International Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators (InterPride), the European Pride Organizers Association (EPOA), the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (ILGHRC), and the Sydney Gay Games and others active in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community will coordinate conferences and events which highlight the achievements and the situation of GLBT people worldwide. World Pride Rome 2000 will be held July 1 to 9. World Pride Rome 2000's nine days of events include a conference on Religion and Homosexuality with workshops and a debate by religious leaders, coordinated by IGLHRC; a one day HIV/AIDS conference and update; the International Lesbian and Gay Association's World Conference; a youth conference; a women's conference; an outdoor, top house fashion show in Piazza Venezia; outdoor dance and theater performances; photo, art, rainbow flag and historical exhibits. Classical and popular music concerts will be held in outdoor venues in the center of Rome. Entertainment includes a Black Party and a White Party, and dance parties at the famed Muccassassina club will be held on both weekends of World Pride. The film "Lesbian Gender Project" featuring interviews with women worldwide will premiere. The ILGA World Conference will host participants from Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and the Pacific, and will give a broad range of workshops, including minority, bisexual, and transgender issues, with a focus on education, leadership training, and awareness.
"The coordination of international human rights, pride, and cultural groups with the City of Rome during the Jubilee year is unprecedented," said Deborah Oakley-Melvin, International Director of World Pride Rome 2000. "We are honored to host the first World Pride and commend the Comune di Roma for helping equal rights become visible through nine days of cultural, spiritual, social, political, and athletic conferences and events." The concept of World Pride was first presented as a proposal for Europride 2000 in 1996, and was encouraged by members of the European Pride Organizers Association. The following year, World Pride Rome 2000 was adopted at InterPride's (International Association of Pride Coordinators) annual conference. Inquiries may be made by e-mail to WorldPrideRome@aol.com, by faxing (use 011-39- from the U.S.) 06/5413971 or by mailing World Pride Rome 2000 at the offices of Circolo Mario Mieli, via Corinto, 5, Roma 00146 Italia. World Pride Rome 2000, scheduled for July 1 to 9, 2000, will be the first international GLBT event to promote the unity of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals with their straight allies and friends to further civil and human rights efforts. For more information on World Pride Rome 2000, visit the website at www.worldpride2000.com. Hollywood AIDS Dissidents Decry Censorship
ACT UP Hollywood is a group of gays and non-gays who proclaim that HIV is not the proven cause of AIDS, and that the well-publicized drugs are hurting and killing far more people than they have helped. Attempts to educate the gay community with these views have met resistance from many AIDS authorities and organizations, yet the "AIDS dissident" movement continues to grow worldwide with many scientists beginning to publicly question the mainstream HIV=AIDS theories. ACT UP Hollywood has a website at www.actuphollywood.com. The largest dissident website worldwide is at www.virusmyth.com, with statements of support from Nobel prize winning chemist Dr. Kary Mullis, protease inhibitor designer David Rasnick, UC-Berkeley professor Peter Duesberg and more. The planned meeting on January 24 is open to the public and all media. Editor's Note: Opposition to the HIV=AIDS theory is not new. The New York Native, once a major city newspaper, promoted such opposition regularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s before it ceased publishing. |
Tonight (January 17, 2000 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day) a vote was taken by
the City of Rome to fund the cultural events of World Pride Rome 2000, the largest gay event
ever held in Rome and the first World Pride. Silvio di Francia, leader of the Green Party
(Partito dei Verdi) and Enzo Foschi, leader of the Left Party (Democratici di Sinistra),
spearheaded this effort to achieve this recognition of the importance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender pride as integral to the role of human rights.
Graphic: World Pride 2000 
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