REGISTRATION
1. Who can join Arcigay?
Anyone aged 16 or over is welcome, although entry to recreational clubs is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Arcigay is an association open to homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgender people, women, men, young people, seniors, Italians, and foreigners.
2. How do I join Arcigay?
Members must go to an Association club, whether political or recreational, present an identity document, and pay the annual membership fee of €14. A personal magnetic card is then issued, which must be signed by the member and allows access to the clubs.
3. How long is the card valid for?
The membership card is valid for 365 days from the date of issue. Only after the expiration date can you renew your membership at any Arcigay club.
4. Why is a membership card needed to join an Arcigay club?
Arcigay is a member of the Arci Federation (Italian Cultural Recreational Association). Italian law requires that only members of Arci clubs be admitted. Therefore, membership is required to enter Arcigay clubs.
Members of other associations affiliated with the Arci Federation can obtain an Arcigay membership card and thus enter clubs by paying a small fee and presenting an identity document. Similarly, Arcigay members can enter any other Arci club.
5. What are the advantages of joining Arcigay?
With an Arcigay membership card, you can attend all of the Association's clubs throughout the country (political and cultural clubs, bars, saunas, nightclubs, restaurants, etc.). By joining a political and cultural club, you also acquire the right to participate in the Association's social and political life, both at the local club and nationally. In this way, Arcigay offers you the opportunity to personally contribute to the movement for equal rights and freedom for homosexuals. You can find your nearest club at www.arcigay.it/local.
6. Why are there tiles of different colors?
All membership cards used to access clubs are the property of Arcigay and have the same value. They come in different types and colors depending on whether they were issued by political-cultural or recreational clubs, to Italian or foreign citizens.
7. Is it possible to cancel my Arcigay membership?
Yes, it's possible. To do so, simply return your membership card to Arcigay's national headquarters, along with a valid ID. You can also mail your membership card, attaching a signed cancellation request and a photocopy of your ID. This will delete all personal data held by Arcigay.
8. What happens if my Arcigay membership card is lost or stolen?
By showing up at any club with an identity document, it is possible to block the old card and receive a new one, paying the sum of 2.50 e.
9. How is the privacy of Arcigay members protected?
Membership in the Association and the personal data of members are confidential. They are stored exclusively in a protected and encrypted digital database, access to which is regulated by Italian Privacy Law No. 675/96. In compliance with the law, each member may view, delete, or, if necessary, modify their data by presenting an identity document.
CLUBS
10. How do you open an Arcigay political-cultural club?
The first step in starting a political-cultural club where one doesn't already exist is to gather a group of people who live in the area and want to start a gay association. The first challenges are finding a meeting place, a phone line, and an email address for communication. An initial solution may be to find a place to stay with another association (Arci Nuova Associazione, Legambiente, political groups, etc.). One of the first steps is to contact Arcigay directly and organize a founding assembly to discuss and approve the local club's bylaws (Arcigay can provide a basic reference text) and elect the governing bodies. The articles of incorporation and bylaws must be filed with the Public Registry Office. The new local association must then submit a written application for affiliation to Arcigay.
If the local association wishing to join already exists, an initial meeting will be held with a national Arcigay representative to get to know each other better. The club will then send Arcigay a written application for affiliation, update its bylaws to Arcigay's, and register the changes with the Public Registry Office.
Affiliation is definitively approved by the Arcigay National Council.
11. How do you open an Arcigay recreational club?
First, you need to be clear about the type of club you intend to open (bar, cruising club, nightclub, sauna, etc.) and have a space available to rent or purchase. It's also important to check whether the location already has public licenses, which would be incompatible with opening a private club. Even for recreational clubs, contacting Arcigay is still one of the first things to do. To join the Association, you must sign a Bylaw that contains specific rules inspired by Arcigay's goals. One of the Association's health policies, for example, requires all Arcigay recreational clubs to provide free condoms to members.
If affiliation is requested by an existing organization, contact Arcigay and proceed as above. Any public licenses will require a search for possible solutions, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
DOCUMENTATION
12. Where can I find in-depth information and documents for research and studies on GLBT issues?
Some Arcigay political-cultural circles run Documentation Centers (libraries, video libraries, newspaper libraries, etc.). They represent a good, and sometimes unique, resource for consulting materials and documents or for receiving information on publications, newspapers, etc. You can contact them at [email protected].
FRIENDLY TELEPHONES
13. How can I get information, a listening ear, and help with personal problems or health and prevention issues?
Many Arcigay clubs offer counseling centers and helplines aimed at contributing to the well-being and health of gay and lesbian people. These services can be accessed both by phone and in person, and trained and compassionate staff are available to discuss your concerns. To contact them, you can view a city-by-city list by clicking the appropriate link on the homepage of the website www.arcigay.it.
MILITARY SERVICE – CIVIL SERVICE
14. Are gay men discriminated against in military service in Italy?
No. Gay men are not excluded from the Italian Armed Forces, as is the case in the rest of Europe. However, if a gay man feels that his homosexuality might pose a problem for him in the barracks, he can request exemption from military service. Anyone interested in starting the exemption process can write to [email protected].
It's also always possible to choose to perform Civil Service, even at Arcigay offices or at the offices of individual political-cultural circles. For further information, please contact [email protected] or the individual circles listed on the website.
LAWS
15. Does Arcigay offer legal advice and assistance?
For legal assistance, you should contact a local lawyer. Your local association can provide referrals to available lawyers. Arcigay can also offer advice and suggestions on issues related to discrimination or rights claims. Simply email us at [email protected]
MARRIAGES AND COHABITATIONS
16. Is it possible for a gay couple to get married in Italy?
No. Italian law does not permit marriage or other forms of legal recognition of same-sex relationships and cohabitation. Some municipalities have established civil union registries, while others certify the existence of a registered family linked by an emotional bond. These registries and certificates have a rather symbolic value and, in themselves, do not guarantee substantive rights. For example, they do not allow for decisions regarding a partner's healthcare in the event of illness and the partner's inability to make independent decisions, nor do they guarantee survivor's pensions or access to the tax and insurance benefits often afforded to married couples. Gay couples have occasionally been recognized by foreign diplomatic missions under the laws of other states. However, this is only possible when at least one partner is a citizen of a state that also legally recognizes gay relationships.
17. Is it possible for a gay Italian couple to get married abroad?
It's not easy, but under certain conditions it is possible. Some states allow marriage to foreign gay or straight couples as long as they are resident in their territory. To date, the only countries that allow it are the Netherlands and Belgium. The process is not quick, but some Italian couples have managed to marry this way. However, the marriage does not automatically have legal validity in Italy.
18. Is it possible for a foreign citizen to obtain a residence permit in Italy as the partner of an Italian citizen?
No. Having an emotional bond, a relationship, or cohabitation with an Italian, while not having any legal relevance under current laws, does not constitute any prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit or other authorization to live in Italy.
