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(In the photo: Apulia governor Nichi Vendola with his partner Ed Testa, posing for the Rome Gay Pride's poster.)

Rome is getting ready for the annual parade, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 7.

As all Gay Pride parades around the world, the event aims to raise awareness against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and to promote their dignity and equal rights for all.

This year’s slogan, “Ci vediamo fuori”, (“See you outside”) is meant to stress the importance of not living in fear of showing your sexual orientation, while it is also a call to openly battle discrimination.

Among the 150 people posing for the poster sponsoring the event is Nicki Vendola, the governor of Apulia, photographed with his partner Ed Testa (both pictured in the photo). Organizers have thanked Vendola for his participation and for his commitment to fight discrimination.

The event also celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the first Gay Pride in Rome, which took place in July 1994.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm in Piazza della Repubblica and, proceeding through the center of Rome, will conclude at Piazza Madonna di Loreto.

Several countries in Europe, including France and Spain, allow same-sex couples to marry; Italy does not recognize any form of same-sex union, not even civil unions or domestic partnership. 

The Rome event is just the first of a series of events that will follow in different �������� cities until mid-July to celebrate LGBT rights.