Trento: Teacher fired for being a lesbian, school condemned

Bologna, March 8, 2017 – “We are delighted to learn of the appeal ruling upholding the conviction of the Istituto Sacro Cuore in Trento for not renewing a teacher's contract because she was a lesbian,” said Gabriele Piazzoni, national secretary of Arcigay. He continues: "This new ruling reaffirms the impossibility of mitigating or conditioning the crime of discrimination: nothing, not even religious beliefs, can justify or enable discriminatory action. The convicted institution, whatever its religious sentiment, must respect the laws of our Republic, which are those of a secular state, in which no belief is elevated to the level of norm. It is therefore good that the judiciary has vehemently reaffirmed this principle, even increasing the compensation due to the injured party. Finally, we can only be further pleased that this ruling comes on this important day of women's mobilization: today, a woman, a lesbian and a worker, has won her battle against an institution that violently sought to regulate her private life, her relationships, and her sexuality: this can only be wonderful news," concludes Piazzoni.