Last Sunday in Florence, Arcigay met with the Democratic Party to discuss their respective positions on LGBT rights.
The meeting was an opportunity for the Association to share with the party the expectations and disappointments of Italian gays, lesbians, and trans people, which emerge daily from Arcigay's relationship with the community throughout Italy. Numerous reports confirm the perception of a center-left that is too timid, silent, and confused, as the association has reiterated on several occasions, specifically regarding the rights of LGBT individuals and couples.
Arcigay has expressed to the Democratic Party its unease over the slowness and difficulty with which the largest center-left party appears to be addressing the homosexual issue, amid contradictory positions from various party members and embarrassing voting statements from individual local administrations.
Arcigay has been keen to recognise the Democratic Party's exclusive ownership of internal democratic decision-making, unlike the personalised decision-making that characterises many other parties in Italy.
The Democratic Party, represented by Ivan Scalfarotto, vice president of the Democratic Party, and Ettore Martinelli, head of civil rights for the Democratic Party, offered important reassurances and reflections on the significance of recognizing the rights of LGBT individuals and couples within the process of reunifying the country and aligning with European legislation.
Arcigay's request to meet with Pier Luigi Bersani for a definitive clarification of the Party's position on LGBT issues and the request for participation and concrete commitment to the Europride Rome 2011 demonstration remains open.
Paolo Patanè, national president of Arcigay
