[:it]
Initiative to respond to the homophobic, transphobic, and sexist "no-gender" phenomenon“
For some years now, they have been active in Italy and Europe organized subjects that, under a generic umbrella of "no-gender" or "anti-gender" movement and initiative“ (they fight what they call “gender”), actively oppose any form of inclusion and openness of civil society and institutions towards LGBTI people, and bring back to the fore sexist worldviews that were thought to be outdated.
It's about a diverse movement of fundamentally religious and ultraconservative origin who, however, prefers to "hide" his ideological origins by calling himself "non-denominational", even if the arguments he uses always refer to a religious vision of the world.
Based on an arsenal of manipulation and falsification of arguments usually used instead to spread respect for diversity and fight homophobic and transphobic violence, these subjects They are very active in spreading a sometimes paranoid propaganda of fear in families and the general population, in interfering with the already limited prevention activities against homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and in putting pressure on public institutions to do nothing to improve the lives of LGBTI people.
What we did
Arcigay has promoted in 2016, a work of analysis and study of the phenomenon, and a moment of comparison with other realities of the Italian LGBTI movement, but also with organizations that work on human rights and women's rights in general, for:
- analyze the discourses and methods of action of the homophobic, transphobic and sexist movement “no-gender”;
- outline possibilities for response and action effective in the communicative, institutional, political practice and scholastic fields.
The LGBTI Resource Center, Arcilesbica, Certi Diritti, Intersexioni, MIT, Famiglie Arcobaleno, and Agedo collaborated directly on the project. Although it has yielded excellent results in terms of analysis and debate, the project requires a second phase to implement the initiative through a medium- to long-term campaign that will reduce the negative impact of manipulative and falsifying "anti-gender" propaganda on both the community and institutions.
Objectives and actions
Arcigay wants to continue the path undertaken with a long-term program, #maqualegender, with the aim of:
- monitor the narratives of homophobic, transphobic and sexist hatred spread by the anti-gender movement and the impact they have on society and institutions;
- monitor homophobic and transphobic events, even those not directly linked to the anti-gender movement;
- to expose and dismantle the manipulation, falsification, and political agendas of the anti-gender movement and bring communication and society back to a level of reality, as well as respect for LGBTI people and women.
The actions:
- construction of a National Observatory on Homophobia and Transphobia able to monitor, with appropriate detection and analysis tools, homophobic and transphobic narratives and events online and offline in Italy;
- building a permanent national counter-narrative campaign aimed at dismantling the homophobic, transphobic and sexist narrative produced by the anti-gender movement.
#MaQualeGender currently does not have funding for further implementation. The study and the training and discussion meeting were made possible thanks to funding from the Open Society Initiative for Europe – Open Society Foundations.[:en]
Initiative to respond to homophobic, transphobic, and sexist "anti-gender" phenomena“
For several years now, organized groups have been active in Italy and Europe, under the umbrella of an "anti-gender" movement and initiative (fighting what they call "gender"), actively opposing any form of inclusion and openness towards LGBTI people in civil society and institutions, and bringing back to the forefront sexist worldviews that were once thought to be outdated.
It is a diverse movement with a fundamentally religious and ultraconservative background that prefers to "conceal" its ideological origins by calling itself "non-denominational", even if the arguments it uses always refer to a religious vision of the world.
Using a toolkit of manipulation and distortion of the arguments typically used to promote respect for diversity and combat homophobic and transphobic violence, these individuals are actively spreading paranoid propaganda of fear among families and the general population, interfering with the already limited prevention of homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools, and pressuring public institutions to do nothing to improve the lives of LGBTI people.
In 2016, Arcigay promoted a study and analysis of the phenomenon, and a moment of discussion with other entities of the Italian LGBTI movement, but also with entities that work on human rights and women's rights in general, to:
- analyze the discourses and methods of action of the homophobic, transphobic and sexist “anti-gender” movement;
- outline possibilities for effective responses and actions in the fields of communication, institutions, political practice, and the school system.
The project has yielded excellent results in terms of analysis and debate, but a second phase is needed to implement the initiative through a medium- to long-term campaign that reduces the negative impact of manipulative and falsifying anti-gender propaganda on both the community and institutions.
#MaQualeGender currently does not have funding for further implementation. The study and the training and discussion meeting were made possible thanks to funding from the Open Society Initiative for Europe – Open Society Foundations.[:]
