Offenses on social media against Arcigay Napoli president, sentenced

The sentence against Salvatore Sparavigna, a journalist and local political figure, convicted of homophobic insults and offenses towards the president of Arcigay Napoli, Antonello Sannino, has aroused great satisfaction on the part of Arcigay Napoli.

The judiciary issued an exemplary sentence of 6 months in prison, compensation for damages and legal costs. Sparavigna had been suspended from the Order of Journalists for homophobic and misogynistic behavior.

The facts date back to June 2020, when during a telephone conversation published on Facebook, Sparavigna insulted Sannino. The president of Arcigay Napoli highlighted the importance of the sentence and expressed the hope that the leaders of M5S and Free will take a stand against such discriminatory behavior.

Sannino criticized the political alliance between Sparavigna and Senator Mazzella in view of the elections in Torre Annunziata. The condemnation by the Court of Appeal of Naples led Sannino to make an appeal for political movements such as the M5S to maintain coherence towards the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ people.

“After this ruling by the Court of Appeal of Naples, I hope the leaders of the M5s and Free will intervene, two political groups that have always been at the forefront of recognizing the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ people – continues Antonello Sannino – I had already expressed to Senator Mazzella and Josi Della Ragione all our concern and all our dismay at the political alliance between Senator Mazzella (M5s) and Mr. Sparavigna in view of the upcoming administrative elections in Torre Annunziata.

It is not acceptable, also in view of the next very delicate European elections, that a large political movement like the M5s, always at the forefront in the fight against discrimination and in favor of the recognition of new civil and social rights, can make political agreements with people like Mr. Sparavigna. Finally, I thank our lawyer Gian Paolo Picardi for this further important result”.