In the beautiful hall on Via Speciano in Cremona, Arcigay "La Rocca" organized an evening debate: "Knowing the Past, Understanding the Present, Imagining the Future: Arcigay vs. Arcilesbica." Brilliantly moderated by Paolo Gualandris, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper "La Provincia," the debate was between Arcigay's national secretary, Aurelio Mancuso, and Arcilesbica's president, Cristina Gramolini, on the main issues facing the LGBT movement.
First of all, the ritual question: is it a split or a budding?
‘'It was therefore up to Gramolini to retrace the history of the creation of Arcigay Donna in 1990, then of the split of the name into "Arcigay-Arcilesbica" in 1994 and finally of the split in 1996. She then underlined how the first difference between the two associations is sexual: "'it is a lesbian subjectivity that requires a space of autonomy'".
Aurelio Mancuso emphasized that the choice for autonomy was shared by Arcigay, which, with a farsighted sense of reality, never hindered the process of establishing Arcilesbica. For some years, the two organizations, still in principle federated, have distanced themselves at the national level, while continuing to work together in many local contexts.
Gualandris then noted that the statutes of the two associations reveal a difference in their views on political action: "While Arcigay positions itself as an institutional point of reference, regardless of the governing parties, Arcilesbica makes a clearer distinction and addresses itself constructively only to the left.".
""The Italian right is backward and illiberal," Gramolini pointed out, "and engaging with them would mean legitimizing their positions. Then again, there are always some on the right who appear open to LGBT issues, but it's just a trap to disorient the movement. These same people have never done anything concrete to change their parties' positions.".
However, Aurelio Mancuso points out that, despite the danger posed by the Italian right, if an institution, as a representative of all citizens, grants benefits to the movement (sponsorship of the Gay Pride in Bari, for example), these cannot be refused: "We focus on the substance, on increasing the chances that homosexual people today will live better.".
The model is that of Nilde Iotti, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and a Communist, who, when she became an institutional representative, placed herself above the parties. Not engaging with institutions would mean devaluing them and playing into the hands of the right, which has an interest in turning them into branches of the governing parties, rather than institutions that represent all citizens and place themselves above the parties.
Gramolini, however, remains "wary" when concessions are made to the LGBT movement: "I don't want to be exploited: if they do it, it means they have their own interests, not that they've changed their party's positions." Perhaps, the president of Arcilesbica observed, the LGBT movement today is afraid of her "radicalism.".
The positions of the two interlocutors reverse when the topic shifts to the "new global" or "no global" movement, which fights neoliberal globalization.
While Aurelio Mancuso insists on the centrality of sexuality, which is often overlooked by that movement ("I must fight first and foremost for my rights. I don't want to see them fade away under other issues, however important, but no more so than mine"), Gramolini responds with Arcilesbica's full support for the "movement of movements," which "unites different groups fighting against various injustices." At the European Social Forum in Florence, Arcilesbica presented its concerns and sought to have them given the importance they deserve.
This also happened to the Arcigay circles that brought their demands for the recognition of civil rights to Florence.
Continuing the many topics addressed during the debate, the discussion focused on the daily problems of homosexual people (coming out, discrimination, etc.) and the concrete services that the two associations offer their members.
While Arcigay, with its broader logistical and structural resources, offers its members various services (recreational venues, information, legal protection, STD prevention, etc.), Arcilesbica, with its more limited capabilities, still offers a "lesbian-friendly hotline," which many women still use today to escape situations of invisibility or discrimination. Furthermore, it offers an exercise in increasing the visibility of lesbians, both within the LGBT movement and externally, in public opinion.
The two interlocutors in this lengthy debate both found themselves in complete agreement on condemning the incident of discrimination that occurred in a Cremona oratory, recalled by the president of Arcigay, "La Rocca," and which sparked much discussion in the small Lombardy town. Paolo Gualandris, a journalist for the newspaper where the case broke, said that all the letters received were absolutely supportive of homosexuals; only one, published by the newspaper, was tainted by blatant homophobia.
The moderator, hoping to spark a small "Cremona turning point," then urged the two associations to resume the dialogue they had reopened during the evening and to organize joint initiatives.
""I would propose regular meetings, for example, once a month, to push for laws that protect everyone's rights: I believe the movement is ready," Gramolini suggests.
""It's useful for Arcigay and Arcilesbica to talk to each other," Mancuso replies, "taking into account that in many local contexts they already work together: let's try to restart our dialogue.".
And with the promises and good intentions that always emerge from a debate and a dialogue, the "Arcigay vs. Arcilesbica" evening concluded: no winners, no losers, therefore, only a great desire for commitment and collaboration. Will actions be able to follow up the promises?
The Arcigay "La Rocca" club of Cremona achieved a great success in organizing the evening, bringing about fifty people to a provincial city to attend a lively and insightful debate.
Tireless, the Cremona activists continue their activities: on December 1st, World AIDS Day, they will be present throughout the day on Via Campi to distribute informational materials and free condoms.
