In a room packed with young people, in the renovated headquarters of the Circolo Arci Punto G, which houses Egg and the Associazione Mutua Studentesca, the founding assembly of Arcigay Turin took place on Monday, November 25th. Thus, after six years, Arcigay returns, following a nine-month gestation period, to the capital of the Alps, a city that can claim to be the birthplace of the modern Italian gay movement.
Egg, a gay and lesbian university student association, began a few months ago to get to know and connect with the national association, asking Arcigay to maintain its identity as a group primarily aimed at students.
‘'affiliation with an interest association is a novelty for 'Arcigay, which up to now has always been joined by either recreational clubs or territorial clubs.
The Turin group has instead chosen a mixed formula, enshrined in the Statute, where 50% of the seats are reserved for students, but at the same time the Club will work to broaden its reach to gays and lesbians of all ages and with diverse cultural and social interests.
After a brief presentation by the new President Davide Blanc, elected unanimously along with the other members of the Board of Directors, Aurelio Mancuso, National Secretary of Arcigay, expressed his deep satisfaction with the positive moment the association is experiencing, with new groups joining over the past year, promoted primarily by young people and very young people.
“This is a clear signal,” Mancuso emphasized, “that a profound change is underway in the LGBT movement: young people are finally taking ownership of their own spaces and intending to get involved firsthand.”
Andrea Benedino brought greetings from Arcigay Ivrea, founded a fortnight ago, and expressed the hope that: “After Ivrea and Turin, it will be possible for other groups to emerge in Piedmont.”
Paolo Hutter, the movement's longtime leader and former Turin City Councilor for the Environment, also attended the meeting. "Your work in schools," Hutter recalled, "and your desire to build a community where people feel comfortable are essential to fostering a new understanding of gay activism in our city."“
Davide Blanc also thanked the Turin LGBT groups present at the Assembly, including Davide e Gionata, an association of gay believers.
‘Arcigay Turin aims primarily to disseminate its proposals through the publication of a magazine called "Gomma," which will be launched soon and distributed at the university and in LGBT gathering places. Sunday parties are also planned at the Largo Montebello headquarters, as well as an informational rally on December 1st.
In addition to Davide, the Board of Directors also includes Simone Rossi, head of organization, Stefano Apruzzese, head of schools and training, and Francisco A., head of cultural and recreational events.
‘The Turin group's affiliation will be approved by the Arcigay National Council, which will be held in Bologna on December 7th and 8th.
For information
Arcigay Egg
Largo Montebello 21, Turin
Tel 011.885700 Cell 340 1297522
[email protected] [email protected]
