Conference Program

In recent years, the Italian political landscape has been marked by the rise of radical right-wing parties which, also through electoral campaigns based on anti-gender rhetoric, have contributed to reinforcing a climate of polarization and delegitimization toward LGBTQ+ people. In this context, public and media discourse plays a crucial role in shaping the democratic imaginary; however, it often tends to normalize gender stereotypes and discriminatory narratives, thereby contributing to the reproduction of inequalities and forms of both symbolic and material violence.

In Italy, in the absence of specific legislation aimed at protecting victims of discrimination and homotransphobic violence, and in the lack of structured policies for prevention and education on diversity, LGBTQ+ movements have progressively self-organized by promoting the creation of a nationwide network of Anti-Discrimination Centers (CAD). These organizations provide health, psychological, and legal support services at the local level, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups—including minors, transgender people, people with disabilities, and migrants. However, beyond their role in providing support and assistance, CADs also perform a political and cultural function, contributing to the construction of counter-narratives capable of challenging stereotypes, biases, and victim-blaming cultures that often characterize the public representation of sexual minorities.

This paper presents the preliminary results of a research project conducted within the framework of the European CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), funded by the European Union. The study, qualitative in nature and conducted on a national scale, is based on in-depth interviews with operators and coordinators from fifteen Italian CADs. Through these interviews, the research analyzes, on the one hand, the services provided by the centers and their impact on local contexts, and, on the other, the advocacy and communication strategies developed to intervene in public debate, raise public awareness, and influence institutions and policy-makers.

The research design also includes two focus groups involving the same actors who participated in the interviews. These collective moments of discussion make it possible to revisit and further explore the main issues emerging from the individual interviews, highlighting convergences, divergences, and shared interpretations among participants, while offering a space for collective reflection on practices of resistance, advocacy, and the construction of alternative narratives.

Ultimately, the paper aims to show how the practices developed by CADs can be interpreted not only as forms of social support, but also as expressions of democratic action. By addressing situations of violence against LGBTQ+ people on a daily basis, CADs contribute to dismantling stereotypes and prejudices, while promoting more inclusive models of society.