ARCIGAY: "A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. GIANNINI MUST INVESTIGATE THE CASE AND CLARIFY PUBLICLY."“
Bologna, November 13, 2014 "The confidential letter, leaked to the press today, in which the Milanese Curia asks religion teachers to report all anti-homotransphobia projects active in schools, is an unacceptable abuse. It shines a spotlight on an attempt, if not an outright practice, of control of public schools by the ecclesiastical lobby." Flavio Romani, president of Arcigay, reacts to the letter addressed to teachers by the Milanese diocese. "It is inconceivable," Romani continues, "that through a mailing list, a power other than the State can provide guidance, request information, and instigate actions in schools of all levels, bypassing the Ministry and all the bodies responsible for protecting education, its environments, and its processes. The prelate's letter, made public by the press, casts a sinister shadow over the entire school system and makes a thorough inspection and public clarification from Minister Stefania Giannini urgently necessary." "This is yet another homophobic stance from the Church," continues Davide Zotti, teacher and head of Arcigay's Schools, "in a highly sensitive area like the education and training of young people. The fact that a diocesan official explicitly invites Catholic religion teachers, who are still employees of the Italian state, to act as 'sentinels' on important issues, such as the fight against homophobia in schools, dismissing it as vulgar indoctrination, does nothing but trample on the professional dignity and freedom of teachers, guaranteed by our Constitution, and fuels a homophobic climate, which primarily affects the homosexual and transgender adolescents who attend our schools every day. If Father Gian Battista Rota wants a list of schools where homophobia is fought and prevented, he should contact Arcigay directly, for example the CIG in Milan, which has long been active in many local schools: we could provide him with a long list, without the need for fifth columns." Catholics. We work openly, because the problem of homophobia exists and must be addressed.".