Arcigay Congress: Natascia Maesi is the first woman elected president.

Gabriele Piazzoni was confirmed as general secretary. The delegates' assembly voted unanimously to reaffirm the association's anti-fascist and pacifist identity. 

Latina, November 13, 2022 Natascia Maesi, a 45-year-old journalist representing the Siena Regional Committee, is the first woman elected president of Arcigay. This is one of the outcomes of the association's 17th National Congress, which concluded today in Latina. Gabriele Piazzoni, 38, from Crema, was confirmed as Secretary General. The delegate assembly also approved the motion "Pride in Motion" (available on the website). www.arcigay.it) and unanimously reaffirmed the association's anti-fascist and pacifist identity. The new national secretariat, the organization's executive body, is composed of Anna Claudia Petrillo (delegation to territorial relations), Christian Leonardo Cristalli (trans rights), Claudio Tosi (culture, history, and memory), Ilenia Pennini (health), Luciano Lopopolo (education), Manuela Macario (work), Marco Arlati (sport), Marta Rohani (schools), Matteo Cavalieri (treasurer), Michela Calabrò (gender policies), Roberto Muzzetta (foreign affairs), Shamar Droghetti (youth policies), and Daniela Lourdes Falanga (prisons, legality, and the fight against mafias). "I am deeply honored by the role the association has entrusted me with today, which is the culmination of a journey that comes from afar and involves many women within the association," says Maesi. She continues: “From today, for four years, I will be THE president of Arcigay. And I emphasize the THE, to underscore the profound difference between female leadership and feminist leadership. Giorgia Meloni, in breaking the glass ceiling, has ordered the erasure of the feminine, with the consequent invisibility of women from public and political discourse, reinforcing the idea that women have value only if they resemble men, become like them, and appeal to the masculine for authority. The way I and the other transfeminist activists of Arcigay intend to address gender is another matter, making them visible and accessible, disobeying gender norms and expectations, and transcending the limits of binarism. Words create meaning and imagination; they are incredibly powerful tools that must be used responsibly. Even more so if one has privilege or wields power.” “Arcigay emerges from this meeting as a strong and determined association, united, cohesive, and combative,‘ states Gabriele Piazzoni. "We are going through a complicated time," she continues, "hostile in many ways. But we feel ready to navigate this time without fear. Starting tomorrow, we will be working to ensure support and representation for LGBTQIA people, to relaunch the battle for full equality for all, for a policy that removes obstacles and fills the void this country suffers in terms of human, civil, and social rights.".

Latina, November 13, 2022 Natascia Maesi, a 45-year-old journalist representing the Siena Regional Committee, is the first woman elected president of Arcigay. This is one of the outcomes of the association's 17th National Congress, which concluded today in Latina. Gabriele Piazzoni, 38, from Crema, was confirmed as Secretary General. The delegate assembly also approved the motion "Pride in Motion" (available on the website). www.arcigay.it) and unanimously reaffirmed the association's anti-fascist and pacifist identity. The new national secretariat, the organization's executive body, is composed of Anna Claudia Petrillo (delegation to territorial relations), Christian Leonardo Cristalli (trans rights), Claudio Tosi (culture, history, and memory), Ilenia Pennini (health), Luciano Lopopolo (education), Manuela Macario (work), Marco Arlati (sport), Marta Rohani (schools), Matteo Cavalieri (treasurer), Michela Calabrò (gender policies), Roberto Muzzetta (foreign affairs), Shamar Droghetti (youth policies), and Daniela Lourdes Falanga (prisons, legality, and the fight against mafias).

“I am deeply honored by the role the association has entrusted me with today, which is the culmination of a long-standing journey involving many women within the association,” says Maesi. She continues: "From today, for four years, I will be THE president of Arcigay. And I emphasize the THE, to underscore the profound difference between female leadership and feminist leadership. Giorgia Meloni, in shattering the glass ceiling, has ordered the erasure of the feminine, with the consequent invisibility of women from public and political discourse, reinforcing the idea that women have value only if they resemble men, become like them, and appeal to the masculine for authority. The way I and the other transfeminist activists of Arcigay intend to address gender is another matter, making them visible and accessible, disobeying gender norms and expectations, and transcending the limits of binarism. Words create meaning and imagination; they are incredibly powerful tools that must be used responsibly. Even more so if one has privilege or wields power.".

“"Arcigay emerges from this meeting as a strong and determined association, compact, cohesive, and combative," says Gabriele Piazzoni. "We are going through a complicated time," he continues, "hostile in many ways. But we feel ready to navigate this time without fear. Starting tomorrow, we will be working to ensure LGBTQIA people have the 

support and representation, to relaunch the battle for full equality for all, for a policy that removes obstacles and fills the void this country suffers in terms of human, civil, and social rights.