Rainbowing our diversity at Milano Pride 2024

On Saturday 29 June, I made my way to the Stazione Centrale in Milan’s downtown. Under the Generali roof sign, I could see a sea of “red” colleagues.

With my Generali Pride t-shirt and after a short safety briefing and welcoming introductory messages, we set off for our position in the Milano Pride parade 2024.

From our position we were treated to the sight of floats for all sorts of organisations and companies and later, the sounds of a very famous local singer. I didn’t catch her name, but the crowd reaction was nothing short of the recent Taylor Swift concerts!

Together we waited in the heat for the show to begin. Hundreds of participants walked along this grand street. Everyone rushing to find friends, family or colleagues and take their place in the parade or at their pre-determined viewing point.

Participating charities, support groups, clubs, societies, and companies queued up three rows deep, lining the full length and breadth of the street. Nearby, there were dancers on floats in every colour you can think of. Bubbles blew in the air and music blared from every angle; “Man, I Feel Like A Woman”, “It’s Raining Men”, “Born This Way”, “YMCA” as well as local hits that entertained the cast of thousands.? Dancers on stilts moved through the groups welcoming everyone. Balloons were attached to all sorts of contraptions and garments.

Finally, after a welcomed sprinkle of rain, our contingent of around 400 Generali colleagues, family members, and friends begun the 4km march through Milan.

As we made our way down Via Vittor Pisani, we turned towards what looked like a business district. Past some very impressive office and apartment blocks through huge crowds – everyone dancing, smiling, laughing and enjoying the entertainment and spirit of Pride.

We continued under a walkway bridge and re-gathered ourselves for a photo – cheese – and then kept on up the hill and towards our destination – Arco della Pace. Enterprising vendors were selling ice cold waters and beers on the streets along the route, (I hope they had insurance!) offering refreshment from the beating sun.

Supportive drums, synthesisers, car horns, sirens and cheers couldn’t drown out the singing from our group (Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!). The flag wavers persisted throughout the parade, and we received lots of cheers as we passed the crowds.

As we rounded another corner into a more residential district along the park by Viale Elvezia, the smell of honey suckles filled the air and the music, cheering, dancing and singing took another level up. We passed Via Francesco Melzi d’Eril and then for the penultimate stretch we danced and shuffled along to our destination – Arco della Pace.

Here, revellers could enjoy the speeches, entertainment, food and drinks and party late into the night.

While it was probably a bad day for car drivers, while waiting for a colleague at a bathroom stop, I observed one driver patiently waiting for at least 35 minutes and presumably many more hours to move their car, it was a great day for inclusion of Generali colleagues from around the world, and a great day for Generali showcasing to the world their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by rainbowing our pride across Milan