Peace made between Beltrame and the leaders of Arcigay

«"It was simply a misunderstanding." This is how Daniela Beltrame, director of the Regional School Office, dismissed the battle sparked by a formal warning letter from the national office of Arcigay (Italian Gay and Lesbian Gay Association) denouncing teachers' failure to attend the anti-homophobia training course, organized by the Circolo arcobaleno (Rainbow Circle) Arcigay and Arcilesbica (Lesbian Gay and Lesbian Gay Association) on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination. After the heated exchange between Beltrame and local Arcigay leaders, on Monday the director of the School Office met with Circolo arcobaleno (Rainbow Circle) Davide Zotti, who, also as a teacher, had organized the training course, and with Arcigay's national president Paolo Patanè, to definitively settle the matter. "Distending my shortcomings and blaming myself for not wanting to inform teachers of the possibility of participating in the training course seemed to me to be a specious issue. Instead, it was just a misunderstanding because I was never contacted by Zotti, who turned to other offices to organize the training course, and therefore I was not informed." Thus, while Director Beltrame clarified that it was not her intention to undermine the credibility and seriousness of the work done by the president of the Circolo arcobaleno, on the other hand, she committed, as a representative of the Regional School Office—the only case in Italy—to involving Arcigay and Arcilesbica in initiatives against homophobic bullying. "From September," Beltrame explained, "we will collaborate together because their activities are a valid support in the field of anti-bullying training in schools." This stance prompted Arcigay's leadership to withdraw the formal notice. "It is a great satisfaction for us," said Davide Zotti, "because starting next year we will be involved not only in activities with regional school directors but also in information courses for teachers. We will carry out a pilot project that is unique in Italy." "The meeting," Patanè stated, "was very positive and served to clarify mutual and real positions." And that's not all. Beltrame has also requested Arcigay's collaboration to launch a survey with UNAR (National Office against Racial Discrimination) to collect precise data on homophobic phenomena in schools. (i.gh.)