What happened in North Carolina could prove to be the deadly recipe that helps these other discriminatory bills actually make it across the finish line. Indeed, the rushed special session was a perfect recipe for avoiding all of the various resistance that has held back these bills from even being considered in previous years.
For example, the bill’s language was only made public mere minutes before it was considered. The committee first tasked with voting on it had to request to even have five minutes to read it. There was only a total of 30 minutes of public comment, meaning there was basically no opportunity for public input. (Polling showed that there was bipartisan opposition across the state to overturning Charlotte’s ordinance.)
This meant that transgender people did not have the notice or option of traveling to the capitol to share their stories. Businesses had no opportunity to chime in about the economic impact on the state. Though companies like Dow Chemical, Biogen, and Red Hat software tweeted their opposition during the day, it was too little too late. In short, the anti-transgender motives of the lawmakers eager to pass this legislation did not have to pass through any filters before it became law
and
On top of all the anti-LGBT measures, the legislation went further and prohibited cities from mandating any employment compensation (minimum wage, benefits, etc.) beyond what is offered at the state level.
You probably know that the current situation for same sex couples in this country isn’t the brightest. Pretty much no recognition. At all. Now, the government is finally working on a law for registered partnerships
that would guarantee some rights to couples and the so-called “stepchild adoption” – though this point, still different from a “full” adoption, is really controversial and could undergo changes.
Opposition came quickly and the most traditionalist side of the country (mainly catholics) organized a “Family Day” to protest against the law – which will be discussed on January 28. But LGBT associations are going to respond. They are all joining forces. They organized manifestations on the exact same day chosen by the traditionalist protestants, January 23 (turning the Family Day into a Family Gay) in 72 different cities all over Italy. And still counting. IT’S GONNA BE HUGE.
So Italy is going to look like this:
We really want to make our voices heard. We are tired of being invisible. This is still so far from marriage equality, so far from what many other European countries have achieved. We are stil very far behind, and it’s just not fair. But all those red marks stand for squares that will be crammed with people. All on the same day. All asking for equality. All over the country. And they won’t be able to ignore us anymore.
I wouldn’t usually ask this, but in this case I’d appreciate if people shared this to let everyone know what’s going on in this country.
Gay marriage might have been legalized in the US and in other European countries, but here it feels like we’ll never even have partnership rights :/ this isn’t even the first time it’s been attempted and it’s always been refused for ridiculous reasons.
As always, Italy stands out for lagging behind when it comes to LGBT rights…
PS: Here (in Italian) is a list of the places where it’s organized if anyone who is in the country wants to participate.
The only way to get shit done is to make your presence large and known.
It’s exactly what we had to do in the U.S. and other parts of the world are no different.
