Before 1985
The first ARCI Gay club born in Palermo on December 9, 1980, following the mobilization sparked by the tragedy in Giarre (CT), where, two months earlier, two young people had committed suicide because their relationship was being ridiculed throughout the country. Subsequently, other ARCI Gay clubs were established in several Italian cities, but until March 1985, ARCI Gay remained an offshoot of the ARCI National Commission for Civil Rights.
Promoter of ARCI Gay is Don Marco Bisceglia, a Catholic priest from the dissident area known above all as an animator, together with Don Mazzi, of the basic communities.
The first major national meeting of ARCI Gay took place in Palermo in 1982, attended by ARCI national leaders. This meeting is still considered the Association's first national congress. In 1984, the movement began discussing the need to build and strengthen a significant national presence.
1985: the birth
This discussion leads to the unification of almost all existing Italian gay groups in the national Arcigay which, in the national assembly of March 1985, decides to transform itself into a real national organisation by equipping itself with a platform, a board of directors, a national president, Beppe Ramina, and a national secretary, Franco Grillini. The association established its national headquarters in Bologna, at the Cassero di Porta Saragozza, the first Italian gay cultural center, leased, starting June 28, 1982, by a public administration to a gay association, the Circolo Culturale 28 Giugno. These decisions were later ratified by the Second National Congress of Arcigay, held in Bologna in December 1985 at Villa Guastavillani.
In May 1985, Arcigay, together with the Abele group of Turin, helped publish the first Italian book on AIDS, written by Giovanni Dall'Orto. This book remained the only one available in bookstores until 1988. This book marked the beginning of the Association's commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, a commitment that continues to this day and whose highlights include the free distribution of several million condoms and informational materials, the establishment of self-managed health clinics for homosexuals, and participation in the Ministry of Health's Committee for the Fight Against AIDS.
On August 1, 1985, the first Arcigay camp was held in Rocca Imperiale, receiving widespread coverage in the national press. During those years, with the birth of Arcigay Nazionale, relationships with the media, particularly television, radically changed. Through hundreds of press releases, articles, and interventions, Arcigay contributed to radically changing the negative image of homosexuality in society and culture, and in particular to combating homophobic stereotypes, prejudices, and racism.
1986-1988
On June 20, 1986, a national conference entitled "Homosexuals and the State" was held in the Sala del Cenacolo of Parliament in Rome. In December 1987, the third national congress of Arcigay was held, attended by about twenty parliamentarians, and Franco Grillini was elected president of the association.
In 1988, Alma Cappiello, a Socialist MP, introduced the first bill on same-sex partnerships. In the following years, several bills were drafted by the legislative offices of Arcigay and presented to Parliament. These included bills on civil unions and those against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
1989-1991
In November 1989, three hundred lesbian members of Arcigay met in Verona: it was the first major national gathering of gay women who decided to engage in politics, which until then had been considered a male domain par excellence by lesbianism, which was essentially separatist. This decision led to the creation of Arcigay Donna at the association's fourth national congress, held in Bologna in February 1990, and to the election of a woman, Graziella Bertozzo, as National Secretary.
On December 1, 1990, a delegation from Arcigay was received by the President of the Republic Francesco Cossiga.
1992-1994
The next Congress was held in Bologna in February 1992, under the title "Darsi Valore." At the next Congress in Rimini, in April 1994, the association changed its name to Arcigay Arcilesbica, becoming the only Italian association whose statute provides for the election of its governing bodies based on a 50% quota for each gender. The same congress launched the proposal for a national Gay & Lesbian Pride to be held in Rome in collaboration with other associations: the initiative enjoyed widespread participation and resonance, and can be considered the first mass demonstration of homosexuals in Italy.
In the autumn, Giulia Crippa replaced Graziella Bertozzo as National Secretary and drew the attention of the press and national public opinion to the issue of artificial insemination.
1995-1996
On July 2, 1995, the second Gay & Lesbian Pride took place in Bologna. In September, another national demonstration, "Let's Raise Our Heads," took place in Verona against the local City Council's severely discriminatory resolution against homosexuals.
In February 1996, the signature collection campaign on Civil Unions concluded: 90,000 signatures collected in just a few months, 15,000 of which were in Bologna alone.
June 29th, the 3rd Gay & Lesbian Pride in Naples: "Iesce Sole""
The seventh national congress of Arcigay, in Rimini, in October 1996, sanctioned the division of the association into Arcigay and Arcilesbica, which came to light as the first non-separatist national Italian lesbian association.
Davide Barba became National Secretary, alongside Franco Grillini, who was reappointed as president. The two associations' structure was not shared by all the clubs: the clubs of Turin, Florence, Sassari, Verona, Catania, and Padua left Arcigay (the latter rejoining in 2000).
1997
In January 1997, the Ministry of Health launched a research project on homosexual behavior, conducted by Arcigay and the University of Bologna. In May, the Ministry of Health launched a national campaign to distribute AIDS information and prevention materials to homosexuals. In May, the first national training seminar "HIV/AIDS in the gay and lesbian community" was held in Rimini, followed a few months later by the second seminar.
Meanwhile, Arcigay is participating in its first European project: GAP, on AIDS intervention strategies in the homosexual community, promoted by the European Gay AIDS Prevention Network, of which Arcigay is a partner along with associations from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden.
In June, Arcigay organized the Pride Parade in Venice. In the following months, the association met with several ministers in the Prodi government (Finocchiaro, Veltroni, Napolitano, etc.) to push for policies that benefit the LGBT community.
1998
On January 13, 1998, gay Sicilian writer Alfredo Ormando set himself on fire in Rome. Arcigay launched the International Day Against Homosexual Discrimination on the Basis of Religion, which has been celebrated annually on that date ever since.
In March 1998, a bill drafted by Arcigay on Affective Unions was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies. Among the signatories were former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Nilde Jotti (PDS) and philosopher Lucio Colletti (Forza Italia).
Meanwhile, the sixth prevention campaign promoted by the Ministry of Health is underway. In May, the third national seminar on AIDS information for the homosexual community will be held in Rimini.
From June 5th to 7th, the 9th National Congress of Arcigay took place in Rome. On that occasion, a delegation from the association was received by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Luciano Violante. Sergio Lo Giudice was elected the new National President. Franco Grillini assumed the title of Honorary President. Davide Barba was confirmed as National Secretary.
In the following years, new clubs were established (in Modena, Verona, Ferrara, Cosenza, Grosseto, Genoa, Ivrea) or decided to join Arcigay (in Siena, Bolzano, Turin), bringing the number of political and cultural clubs that make up the association to over thirty. Meanwhile, the network of recreational clubs (nightclubs, bars, saunas) also consolidated, surpassing fifty, with over one hundred thousand members.
In September, Arcigay participated in the awareness campaign that would lead the European Parliament to vote on the September 17 resolution against discrimination against homosexuals. In October, an Arcigay delegation met with Minister of Education Luigi Berlinguer to present the teacher training projects, which would receive the Ministry's approval.
In November, Arcigay met with Minister of Equal Opportunities Laura Balbo to agree on the establishment of a Commission for the Rights of Homosexual and Transgender People. The commission, launched a few months later, was chaired by Franco Grillini.
On December 19, Arcigay was among the promoters of the national demonstration on secularism in schools, which saw tens of thousands of people march in Rome, and of the similar demonstration in Bologna in February 1999.
1999
On May 22, 1999, the national Arcigay demonstration in favor of Civil Unions took place in Como.
On June 26, LGBT associations will march together in Rome in a united Pride parade, after two years of separation.
In October, the Council of Ministers approved a bill against discrimination, including anti-homosexual discrimination, proposed by Minister for Equal Opportunities Laura Balbo: the project was ultimately rejected.
That same month, the French Parliament approved the PACS, a civil solidarity pact, open to gay and lesbian couples. Arcigay hosted the ILGA European Congress in Pisa.
On December 15th, "Educating to Respect" takes place, a national day on homosexuality in schools, organized by the Student Union and Arcigay: assemblies are held in many Italian schools.
2000
In 2000, Arcigay was involved in several projects promoted by the European Union (Be Equal Be Different, CERIS, GAP, CID) alongside organizations (gay and lesbian, but also operating in other fields of discrimination) from various European Union countries.
In May, the association's first national program conference was held in Milan. The philosopher Gianni Vattimo, an openly gay man, was elected to the European Parliament, partly following a massive campaign on his behalf by the association.
Meanwhile, Arcigay has been invited to join the Permanent Committee of Youth Associations at the Ministry of Social Policies. In February, it will meet with the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Giovanna Melandri.
During the same months, Arcigay committed itself to promoting, through numerous public events (conferences, debates, newspaper articles, press releases), the success of World Pride Rome 2000, organized by the Circolo Mario Mieli. On July 8th, Arcigay clubs participated in the initiative in large numbers. In September, a lawsuit was filed against the mayor of Chieti, Nicola Cucullo, for having made serious threats to gay people.
In October, Arcigay and Arcilesbica joined forces in many Italian squares for the National Day Against Homophobia, a signature drive against the racist and homophobic statements of Lega leader Umberto Bossi. In November, an international meeting was held in Perugia to present the Be Equal Be Different project.
2001
In May 2001, Franco Grillini, honorary president of Arcigay, and Titti De Simone, president of Arcilesbica, were elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the first time: they were re-elected in the 2006 elections.
Between June and July, Arcigay participates in initiatives related to LGBT Pride. Specifically, on June 22nd in Milan, it is organizing the international conference "Rights in Europe.".
On the occasion of the G8 meeting in Genoa, Arcigay joins the coalition of more than seven hundred associations promoted by the Genoa Social Forum, for the globalization of civil rights.
On November 14, 2001, Arcigay demonstrated outside the Egyptian Embassy in Rome to protest the detention of numerous citizens imprisoned because they were homosexual.
2002
On February 1, 2, and 3, 2002, the 10th National Arcigay Congress was held in Riccione, entitled "Let's build freedom, let's take back love." Sergio Lo Giudice was reconfirmed as President, Grillini as Honorary President, and Aurelio Mancuso was elected the new National Secretary.
Thanks to a new agreement with the Municipality of Bologna that recognizes Arcigay's value as a service to the citizens through its Consultorio and Documentation Center at Il Cassero, on March 2nd the historic headquarters of Il Cassero di Porta Saragozza will give way to the Salara building, a former salt warehouse located on Via Don Minzoni, within Bologna's new Manifattura delle Arti cultural center. Arcigay's national office, still housed in Il Cassero, is now located in a prestigious monument of industrial archaeology, open to the public virtually 24 hours a day.
The national Pride parade takes place in Padua on June 6th: 50,000 people take to the streets. The Regional Council of Tuscany approves a bill against anti-GLBT discrimination. The Arcilesbica congress elects Milanese Cristina Gramolini as president.
In recent months, new clubs have been born in Pistoia, Cremona, Genoa, and Ivrea.
Since 2002, specific working groups have been developed for specific thematic areas: health, law, foreign affairs, communications, interventions in schools, immigration policies, making the association more diversified and ready to intervene in different fields of action.
2003
In 2003, for the first time in Trieste, an Arcigay demonstration commemorated the "pink triangles," homosexuals interned in Nazi concentration camps. It was part of the events marking Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, with the participation of Gianni Vattimo and a ceremony inside the Risiera di San Sabba. This date would become a fixed date in the association's calendar and that of the LGBT community: www.memorialgbt.it.
On February 14, Arcigay launched the National Campaign on PACS – www.unpacsavanti.it. A program of hundreds of initiatives, signature drives, and debates began throughout Italy; approximately 100,000 signatures were collected during 2003. On July 31, the bill on PACS was presented by several DS deputies, including Arcigay honorary president Franco Grillini.
On June 7th, the Bari Pride parade was a resounding success, thanks to the president of the local Arcigay, Michele Bellomo, and his collaborators. The city welcomed participants with a festive welcome, with at least 50,000 people in attendance. The democratic forces of Puglia marched alongside gays. It was a great celebration and a huge political achievement.
On August 1st, Michele Bellomo, spokesperson for the national Pride march, was brutally attacked inside the headquarters of the Arcigay club in Bari, of which he is president. His bodyguard had just been removed, despite receiving death threats from neo-Nazi groups.
On October 30, 2003, Riccardo Gottardi, 26, national councilor of Arcigay and president of Arcigay Pisa, was elected for the first time co-president of Ilga-Europe, the European section of Ilga.
This year saw the publication of the booklet "Unexpected Patients – Medical Practice and Sexual Orientation," produced by Arcigay with the support of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità – National AIDS Program. This informational handbook, aimed at doctors and hospital staff, addresses issues related to the specific needs of homosexual and bisexual patients.
During 2003 and 2004, Arcigay coordinated the European Quba program, which combats discrimination based on sexual orientation and ethnic origin. The goal was to train staff at anti-discrimination centers to address multiple aspects of cross-discrimination. The European program involved approximately 415 people from approximately 60 different gay and immigrant associations in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.
2004
On February 14th, thousands of people gathered in Piazza Farnese in Rome, and over 1,400 couples kissed simultaneously: it was Kiss2PACS. The party, organized by Arcigay Nazionale, was attended by all the LGBT movement groups, with a strong participation from Arcigay and Arcilesbica clubs. Artists, movement leaders, and couples took turns on stage to share their experiences.
April 14, 2004: 15 Forza Nuova members arrested in Bari: among the charges was the beating of Michele Bellomo, spokesperson for Pride 2003.
On April 23, a delegation from Arcigay and ARCI (composed of Sergio Lo Giudice, Renato Sabbadini, Riccardo Gottardi, Tom Benetollo, and Daniele Lorenzi) met with Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Prieto in Havana, as part of a visit to assess the conditions of LGBT people in Cuba. The situation for LGBT people in Cuba appears to have improved in recent years, especially in terms of legislation, where repressive laws have been repealed. Cenesex, led by Mariela Castro, carries out important work in the reception of transgender people and in AIDS prevention, but much remains to be done to recognize freedom of association and expression.
Handygay was born on May 20th: following the appeal of Giovanni Picus, a young disabled gay man, who on February 14th in Piazza Farnese during the Kiss2Pacs demonstration asked for help to create an association for disabled gay men, the first group in Italy for disabled homosexuals was born within Arcigay Roma.
On June 15, election day, Sergio Lo Giudice in Bologna, Alessandro Zan in Padua, and Renato Sabbadini in Bergamo were elected to the City Councils, while Andrea Benedino, a candidate in the European elections, achieved a good personal result. Many of the candidates nominated by the Italian LGBT community were elected.
Tom Benetollo, president of Arci and a close friend of the Italian LGBT movement, died on the night of June 19th. On Friday the 18th, he had attended a meeting on Cuba in Grosseto with Sergio Lo Giudice, Reynaldo Gonzales, and Nelson Simon. He was scheduled to return to the Tuscan city the following day to participate in the procession, but instead fell ill during a debate in Rome. Delegations from Arcigay and Arcilesbica attended the funeral.
On June 23, Fabrizio Longhi, parish priest of Rignano Garganico, who had entrusted the homily to Pasquale Quaranta, a young gay believer and future president of Arcigay Salerno, was removed from his duties in the Foggia area by the bishop of San Severo, Msgr. Michele Seccia. A spontaneous committee of faithful formed in the Foggia area who were opposed to Father Longhi's transfer to Bergamo. Arcigay Milan prepared a dossier on the case and published it on its website. The dossier was collected in the book "The Man Jesus Loved" by Gianni De Martino, Fabio Croce Editore, 2004.
On July 7, for the first time in Italian history, the Chamber of Deputies' Justice Committee began parliamentary debate on several bills regarding the legal recognition of de facto unions and civil solidarity pacts for gay and lesbian couples. The rapporteur is Giuliano Pisapia.
In October, thanks to the joint work of Ilga Europe and Arcigay, the European Parliament's Human Rights Committee rejected the nomination of homophobic Rocco Buttiglione as EU Commissioner: "a secular choice in line with European principles.".
On November 16, a delegation from Arcigay and Arcilesbica met with the group of MEPs who signed the programmatic platform for laws on equal rights for LGBT people.
In 2004, after almost ten years, Arcigay returned to Salerno when the Federico Garcia Lorca Association joined forces with Arcigay, and the Piacenza and Piombino clubs were established.
This year, Arcigay is participating in the European project "TRIANGLE" (Transfer of Information to Combat Discrimination Against Gays and Lesbians in Europe), together with representatives of institutions and associations from five different countries. The project will produce the manual "Navigating Diversity: How Teachers and Counselors Can Build a Welcoming Environment for Young Lesbians and Gays in a Multicultural Context," which aims to develop a tool for teachers and counselors on how to address issues related to lesbian, bisexual, and gay people in a multicultural context.
2005: 20 years of freedom
From March 4th to 6th, to mark the association's twentieth anniversary, the 11th National Arcigay Congress, "Wings to Freedom," was held. Arcigay revamped its territorial organization, transforming city chapters into provincial committees and promising "an Arcigay office in every Italian province." In addition to the association's national president, Sergio Lo Giudice, national secretary Aurelio Mancuso and honorary president Franco Grillini were reappointed. The number of members of the national council, the association's "mini-parliament," was nearly doubled, from the traditional 35 to 59. As of September 30, 2005, Arcigay had 157,354 members, 121 of whom were women. This year, committees were established in Mantua, Ravenna, Caserta, and Florence.
On March 11th in Turin, Arcigay will hold its first joint initiative with an Arab association, dedicated to migrants. The initiative will focus on political asylum for those persecuted for their sexual orientation.
On April 5, Nichi Vendola, a member of the Union and one of the founders of Arcigay, defeated Fitto and was elected governor of Puglia.
The International Day Against Homophobia was also proclaimed in Italy, thanks in part to the work of the Hon. Franco Grillini. It was chosen to fall on May 17, the date on which, in 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses. The aim was to promote "a culture of respect and tolerance," equally open to all sexual orientations. From now on, local Arcigay chapters will organize demonstrations in every city on that date: www.omofobia.it.
On May 18, in Battipaglia (Salerno), Pasquale Quaranta (president of Arcigay Salerno) and his partner were beaten by a group of young people for holding hands. The incident was captured on camera by a popular Italia1 program. Despite this, none of the attackers were charged.
On May 20th, a conference and party in Rome will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Italy's largest gay and lesbian association.
In May, Arcigay mobilized to support the need to vote yes in the four referendums partially repealing Law 40 on medically assisted procreation.
On June 30, Spain extended marriage to same-sex couples. In Europe, the number of states that already recognize same-sex unions, in various forms, rises to 15. On July 2, a delegation from Arcigay participated in the Gay Pride parade in Madrid, marching with Italian flags and receiving applause from the crowd.
In recent months, a youth network has been formed among Arcigay members under 26 from various cities: it promotes youth participation in the association and exchanges with European LGBT organizations. Arcigay has thus become part of the National Youth Forum – www.forumnazionalegiovani.it.
At the same time, lesbian presence and visibility within the association is growing, thanks in part to the creation of a communications network and the appointment of an equal opportunities representative—Lorenza Tizzi—within the national secretariat.
This summer, ModiDi, a national survey on the health and sexuality of the Italian LGBT population, was launched. It is the most extensive survey ever conducted on the country's homosexual and bisexual population, involving over eight thousand gay men and lesbians. The results, which can be found at www.modidi.net, were presented at a final conference in Florence in December.
2006
The annual commemoration of Alfredo Ormando on January 13 in St. Peter's Square is transformed into a Day for Dialogue between Homosexuality and Religions, involving various religious leaders in a conference organized by Arcigay Roma: www.january13.org.
On January 14, the "Tutti in PACS" demonstration was held in Rome's Piazza Farnese, concurrent with the twin demonstration "Usciamo dal silenzio" in Milan, organized by the women's movement: over 150,000 people took to the streets in favor of the secular nature of the state and to demand the recognition of civil liberties for all.
In February, activists from Arcigay Arcilesbice took to the streets in many Italian cities to demand that the commitment to a law establishing civil unions be reinstated in the center-left coalition's electoral platform, L'Unione. The protest was launched by the Arcigay and ArciLesbica associations after the Unione's leaders approved the latest version of the platform, which removed the reference to the establishment of the civil unions agreed upon at the San Martino in Campo meeting on December 5 and 6, 2005.
The PACS will remain outside the government programme, but a few weeks later the leader of the centre-left and future prime minister Romano Prodi sent a letter to the presidents of Arcigay and Arcilesbica, Sergio Lo Giudice and Francesca Polo, in which he invited them to put aside the controversies and work together.
The 5×1000 campaign kicks off in March: you can ask the government to donate 5×1000 of your taxes to Arcigay, which has decided to spend the money on a national campaign against homophobia and to promote respect for homosexuals.
This summer, the Omodisabilità project was launched, a series of interviews with LGBT people with disabilities. It stems from the need and desire to highlight potential double prejudices and discrimination, the specific challenges, resources, integration pathways, and the requests, needs, and expectations of this segment of the LGBT population.
The European Schoolmates project, which begins this year, aims to provide school staff and students with tools and skills to help prevent or manage psychological, verbal, or physical violence against lesbian and gay adolescents or those perceived as such.
During this year, the Aosta Committee resumed its activities, the Verbania Committee was founded, and four committees were established in Sicily: Catania, Palermo, Messina, and Syracuse.
On June 17, the Turin Pride parade took place, with 150,000 people marching. Two government ministers were present for the first time: Minister of Equal Opportunities Barbara Pollastrini (Ulivo) and Minister of Social Solidarity Paolo Ferrero (PRC). During the event, Italian lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations promoted a programmatic platform as the basis for a united fight to achieve legal and social equality for LGBT people.
