Legacoop and Arcigay have signed the following protocol aimed at establishing a stable and structured collaboration between their organizations. Here is the text of the protocol:
Memorandum of Understanding between Legacoop and Arcigay APS
For the promotion of a fair and representative reception of people LGBTI+ in contrast to direct and indirect discrimination motivated by sexual orientation and/or gender identity and for the construction of safe cooperative environments
Premise
Work is a fundamental part of people's lives and represents not only a productive space, but a context for relationships, social recognition, and identity building. These environments define opportunities, rights, security, and the possibility of personal and professional growth.
For this reason, Legacoop and Arcigay APS (hereinafter referred to as Arcigay) recognize the need to promote safe, welcoming, and inclusive work environments, in which everyone can freely express their sexual orientation, gender identity, and individuality, without fear of discrimination or penalization.
Legacoop, in keeping with its values of cooperation, social justice, and the dignity of work, and Arcigay, committed to promoting rights and combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, share the belief that promoting diversity in the workplace is an essential social and organizational responsibility.
Safety, dignity, and full personal expression are essential conditions for individual well-being and the quality of professional relationships. However, for many LGBTI+ people, the workplace can still be a space marked by invisibility, stereotypes, and discrimination that impact their quality of life and professional opportunities. These conditions can lead to self-censorship and limit full participation, with negative effects on the organizational climate and the ability of organizations to innovate and grow.
Prejudice, discriminatory language, and exclusionary practices contribute to creating structural inequalities.
Counteracting these dynamics means protecting people and promoting a broader cultural change in line with the principles and values of cooperative identity (Manchester, 1995).
For this reason, Legacoop and Arcigay, through this Memorandum of Understanding, intend to develop a structured collaboration aimed at promoting training, consultancy, awareness-raising, and operational tools for building welcoming work environments that foster the visibility and well-being of all people equally.
The Parties recognize that a culture of diversity contributes to improving working conditions, promoting the well-being of workers, strengthening organizational cohesion, and supporting more equitable growth of the cooperative system and society.
Through this Protocol, Legacoop and Arcigay commit to collaborating to promote training, combat discrimination and stereotypes, develop monitoring tools, and promote comprehensive and consistent policies and language for the equal representation of all genders and identities.
The parties share a vision of a world of work in which no one has to choose between identity and professional opportunity, and they are committed to translating the principles of equity and inclusion into concrete and verifiable actions.
Article 1 – Purpose of the agreement
The purpose of this Protocol is to:
- promote acceptance, equal representation and valorization of LGBTI+ people in cooperative system;
- prevent and combat discrimination, stereotypes, harassment and marginalization motivated by
sexual orientation and/or gender identity
- promote safe, respectful and welcoming work environments develop permanent diversity management tools;
- promote organizational well-being, representation, and participation.
Article 2 – Areas of collaboration
Legacoop and Arcigay will collaborate in the following areas:
- a) Specialist consultancy
Arcigay, through its skills and networks, will be able to support Legacoop and its member cooperatives
in the definition of inclusive policies, organizational models, anti-discrimination procedures and tools
management of diversity motivated by sexual orientation and/or gender identity
- b) Training
The parties will promote basic and specialized training courses aimed at:
- management groups;
HR managers;
- workers;
- representative bodies.
The itineraries will concern:
- sexual orientation and gender identity;
- extensive and inclusive language;
- minority stress;
- deconstruction of stereotypes and prejudices;
- work transition and inclusion of trans people;
- organizational well-being
- legislative updates and European directives on employment in relation to orientation
sexual and/or gender identity
Article 3 – Extensive and inclusive language and respectful communication
Legacoop, with the support of Arcigay, is committed to promoting the adoption of non-binding languages
discriminatory and respectful of all identities through the sharing of:
- guidelines;
- dedicated training courses.
with the aim of generating change that translates into the use of gender-sensitive language that is representative of all identities in association documents.
Arcigay will contribute cultural, consultancy, and training support to develop tools consistent with best anti-discrimination practices.
Article 4 – Safe spaces, welfare and support
The parties will jointly promote:
- safe spaces for listening and discussion;
- counseling and support services for LGBTI+ people in collaboration
with the territorial networks of the CAD LGBTI+ Anti-Discrimination Centers
- protection protocols for trans and non-binary people;
Article 5 – Monitoring and reporting
Legacoop and Arcigay undertake to carry out at least annually the planning and
administration to Legacoop employees of:
- annual internal survey with analysis of the data obtained;
- periodic monitoring reports.
The goal is to build evidence-based policies and verify the effectiveness of the actions taken.
Article 6 – Specific focus on trans and non-binary people
The Protocol recognizes the need for specific attention to the structural discrimination faced by trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people.
To this end, Legacoop, with the support of Arcigay, will promote:
- breaking down administrative and cultural barriers;
- extensive and inclusive procedures;
- protection in gender affirmation processes;
- prevention of job exclusion.
Article 7 - Governance of the Protocol
The parties establish a Coordination Committee composed of representatives designated by Legacoop and Arcigay
The Committee:
- defines the annual activity plan;
- coordinates the implementation of the Protocol;
- monitor progress;
- evaluate results and critical issues
- prepares an annual report
- offers operational updates.
The Committee will meet at least every six months.
Article 8 – Duration
This Memorandum of Understanding has a term of five years from the date of signing and is automatically renewed unless one of the two parties explicitly wishes to terminate it.
Article 9 – Resources
The parties will define from time to time, through specific project implementation and co-project agreements, the organizational methods, any financial resources, financing, and tools necessary to carry out the planned activities.
This Protocol does not automatically entail direct economic obligations, except as agreed in the individual implementation programmes.
Article 10 – Communication and dissemination
Legacoop and Arcigay are committed to disseminating contents, results, campaigns and good practices resulting from
from the Protocol through:
- public events;
- awareness campaigns;
- editorial tools
- shared platforms
- local and national initiatives.
Article 11 – Shared vision
The parties recognize that no person should have to choose between identity and work, between security and visibility, between self-determination and professional growth.
Through this Protocol, Legacoop and Arcigay are committed to transforming the principles of inclusion, equity, and social justice into concrete, ongoing, and verifiable actions, so that the cooperative system can represent an advanced model of social innovation, dignity of work, and the valorization of all people.
Subscription
This Memorandum of Understanding is signed by:
For Legacoop
The President
Simone Gamberini
For Arcigay APS
The Secretary General
Gabriele Piazzoni
19/06/2026 Rome
