Bologna, April 4, 2014 – Signs of a complete setback for the Renzi government in combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are increasingly evident. This paralysis becomes a complete backtracking when narrowing our focus to education, one of the four axes of intervention defined by the National Strategy for the Prevention and Countering of Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, developed and coordinated by UNAR. Indeed, just a few days ago, news broke that Minister Giannini had withdrawn the training materials "Educating to Diversity," commissioned by UNAR from the Beck Institute and intended for teachers. This act of censorship, seen in the context of the evolving debate on the issue, appears to heed the peremptory order of Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the CEI, and slavishly fulfill the wishes of the methodical mystifying campaign waged for weeks by the bishops' newspaper. This is a serious and absolutely unacceptable coincidence, but above all, it is far from an isolated incident: just a few days earlier, Democratic Party MP Michela Marzano questioned the government about the cancellation of training days scheduled by UNAR as part of the same initiative. In short, yet another training program on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was unjustifiably canceled. All this while Prime Minister Renzi is visiting schools of all levels throughout the country, emphasizing the political will to pay particular attention to education. In reality, however, this focus is resulting in the gradual scrapping of all the work done in schools to combat discrimination, and above all, it betrays the expectations of the majority of Italians who, at the last call to the polls, determined the victory of the center-left coalition, rewarding a political proposal that runs counter to the one we see implemented today. This paradox makes the need for clarification urgent and imperative. We have therefore filed a request for an urgent meeting with Minister Giannini, so that she can provide us with explanations regarding these acts of censorship and provide precise timing and methods for implementing the interventions envisaged in the education axis of the UNAR strategy. We also remind the government that Italy's commitment to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is also due to its adherence to the experimental project proposed by the Council of Europe for the implementation and implementation of Recommendation CM/REC (2010) 5 of the Committee of Ministers, which is constantly monitored by the Council itself. Therefore, broad agreements cannot become the altar on which the policies indicated by the electorate through voting are sacrificed, and today shamelessly betrayed by the reckless U-turn of the Renzi government. This is a foolish U-turn, which overwhelms an area that requires special attention and protection, and which makes the best practices implemented in the regions prey to veritable squadristi attacks.
Arcigay – Flavio Romani
Arcilesbian – Paola Brandolini
Rainbow Families – Giuseppina La Delfa
Mit – Purple Marcasciano
Radical Association Certi Diritti – Yuri Guaiana
Equality – Aurelio Mancuso
