We are proud to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Turin and UNAR. This agreement is a testament to the excellent work of the LGBT Office and its staff and managers in overcoming discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This move puts Turin, the leader of the Ready network, back on the path to becoming a "capital of rights," as designated by Councilor Maricristina Spinosa.
This path took a disastrous turn with the signing of agreements with St. Petersburg, a city that passed a discriminatory law against LGBT people, and the failure to approve the red room of the agenda regarding the use of state rooms for ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples, and above all the rejection of the agenda calling on parliament to express its support for marriage for all.
While Arcigay remains committed to terminating the agreements with St. Petersburg, or at least strongly condemning the discriminatory law—as was already the case in Milan, which suspended the twinning agreement—it has recently launched an appeal, along with other associations, to the highest levels of government. Locally, in agreement with the Turin LGBT Pride Coordination Committee, it has also launched an urgent petition against Uganda, where a horrific law against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people could soon be passed, carrying the death penalty in some cases.
We therefore ask Mayor Fassino, Councilor Mariacristina Spinosa, and the entire Red Room to schedule and approve the agenda as soon as possible. We will send it to all council group leaders by tomorrow, along with the documentation on the gravity of the situation in Uganda.
This could be an important sign that Turin has reinstated LGBT rights on its priority agenda.
Marco Giusta Arcigay Turin Ottavio Mai
