Professional Documents
Culture Documents
When you hear the words gay and Rome together, what is your first thought? Most
people picture bathhouses and a type of brotherly love far removed from Philadelphia. For
better or worse, these concepts are not the case today. Despite historical depictions of
characterized by social otherness and political activism. The noticeable presence of Romes Gay
Street, Roma Pride, and Arcigay Roma promotes acceptance and equal treatment of people who
identify as being of minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Romes LGBTQ+ culture
influences and is influenced by the social and political aspects of the global LGBTQ+ culture,
To begin, lets define the complex elements at play. What is a global city? According to
Saskia Sassen, global cities are centers for mass economies and the production of goods and
services fueling this economy (29). But what influence does the strength of a citys LGBTQ+
culture have on a citys economy? Clearly, a citys LGBTQ+ individuals are unable to contribute
to their full potential when they are preoccupied by pressure to fit in with the majority. In a world
where sex is often a taboo topic, it may seem more attractive to frame sexual orientation as a
qualifier of love and belonging needs, but sexual orientation is primarily concerned with a
physiological need for sexual release (Maslow). This holds true for most people, excepting those
who identify as asexual. While the effects of the conflict between sex negativity and a healthy
libido are felt by the population at large, LGB individuals face increased pressure to limit both
displays of affection (e.g. hugging, kissing) and relationship status viewed more laxly when
elements of our authentic selves in an effort to fit in with the dominate culture is referred to as
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Global Rome: Global Cities
covering (Hansen). Similarly, people are often encouraged by others, even in relatively liberal
cities, to cover their gender identity if they are transgender (used here as a blanket term for all
minority gender identities that are either not cisgender or do not fit the gender binary).
fluid, among others. By encouraging people to cover sexual orientation and gender identity
(a.k.a. SOGI), cities are playing an active role in decreasing their own productivity. In addition to
coverings social justice aspect, there have also been findings linking decreased covering to
increased productivity due to this change in energy allocation (Yoshino & Smith). One survey
respondent stated that covering takes energy that I would rather give to my job, while another
noted that the energy I put into trying to behave different than who I am drained my energy
(Yoshino & Smith). When people who were previously covering are inspired to live openly by
the welcoming environment of a strong LGBTQ+ community, their productivity and quality of
Globally, the LGBTQ+ community is distinctive in its composition; members are bonded
by common (often not visible) elements of identity regarding minority SOGI. Due to the sexual
orientation component, the LGBTQ+ community has a social aspect that often facilitates sexual
activity between members, most frequently run by and for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM).
These social centers often exist in the form of clubs, bars, or saunas. Similarly, the gender
identity element often influences the social elements of the community that may be characterized
as flamboyant by promoting an alternative to the Golden Rule: treat others the way they want
to be treated (Marrazzo). While there are gay bars and clubs scattered throughout Rome, the
main social hub of LGBTQ+ culture is the area officially known as Romes Gay Street
flanking the western side of the Colosseum (Marrazzo). The gay in is title reveals the
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Global Rome: Global Cities
predominantly homosexual male population that frequent its establishments, which include a
gay-friendly boutique hotel and gay bars Coming Out and My Bar. Both bars are enjoyed by
people of all sexual orientations and gender identity, but LGBTQ+ individuals are more
celebrated with parades and festivals. Romes Pride Festival, held annually since 1994, is both a
social celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and a political call-to-action on behalf of LGBTQ+ rights
(Patane). The 2000 World Pride, arranged by Italian LGBTQ+ rights organization Circolo Mario
Mieli, was held in Rome on July 8 (Patane). Rome was selected for this honor so that the 2000
World Pride could serve as an anti-Catholic event in response to the 2000 Jubilee (Marrazzo).
During the 2000 World Pride, much of the programming was centered on the rivalry between the
LGBTQ+ communitys and the Catholic Church. While having a common enemy may have
united the LGBTQ+ community at the time, these offensive tactics made allyship a more difficult
undertaking. Potential Catholic allies may have felt that they were faced with a choice between
their religion and supporting equal rights. However, the popular same love messaging
currently used most widely to advocate for SOGI equality has made allyship reconcilable with
religion. The 2015 Roma Pride Festival (the most recent at time of writing) saw daily debates
on LBTQI [I for intersex] issues, with speakers and guests from the institutional, social and
cultural [perspectives], musical performances and theatrical shows and entertainment taking
place from 6:00 PM to midnight (Roma Pride 2015). The concept of gay family was frequently
present in promotional materials, tapping into the messaging that has played a role in assuring
equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in other countries both in the EU and worldwide (Rome
Pride 2015). While Roma Pride offers LGBTQ+ individuals a supportive environment to discuss
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Global Rome: Global Cities
issues that affect their community, anyone who attends this Pride can gain insight on LGBTQ+
Roma Pride finds its main festival, Pride Park, located in areas occupied by Testaccios
former slaughterhouse, Largo Dino Frisullo, and Lungotevere Testaccio (Roma Pride 2015).
Events in Pride Park include concerts, organization booths, and dancing, activities not unique to
Roma Pride but rather based on the global LGBTQ+ community. In the same vein, the
appearance of Roma Pride is strongly influenced by the rainbow color scheme that has come to
represent the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. Events incorporate Romes unique culture (e.g.
costumes), but the majority of imagery taps into the worldwide LGBTQ+ culture by referencing
LGBTQ+ icons and history from other countries, such as the United States Harvey Milk.
Events, including concerts and parties, visually prioritize aesthetics over functionality by
occupying a significant amount of space and utilizing bright colors to draw attention to the
sociopolitical statements being made through celebration and solidarity. Roma Pride is followed
by Romes annual summer gay festival Gay Village, which takes place from June to September
in Parco del Ninfeo (Marrazzo). Gay Village has less of an element of activism than Roma Pride
does, but it provides a locale for facilitating social connection between members of the LGBTQ+
community. And the sheer reminder that LGBTQ+ individuals exist in Rome, as seen in the Gay
Villages sensual and eye-catching advertising campaign, plays a large part in keeping equal
Italy legalized same-sex sexual activity over a century ago (in 1890), but it only began
registering civil unions in January 2015 (Vogt). Other than the recent recognition of civil unions
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Global Rome: Global Cities
established in foreign countries, Italys legal protection of LGBTQ+ individuals is limited to
couples is legal in the majority of countries in the EU (Vogt). Arcigay Roma, founded in the
1980s and currently located in Testaccio, is the Rome center for Italys foremost national gay
rights organization (Patane). Arcigay Roma assists not only in advocating for equal rights but in
arranging couples counseling, providing free counseling through the internet, SMS, or phone
calls with the Gay Helpline, supporting victims of hate crimes by connecting them with shelter
Originally united in 1985, Arcigay is Italys first and largest national LGBTQ+ non-profit
organization, with dozens of centers nationwide (Patane). The first Arcigay Center was founded
in Palermo on December 9, 1980, two months after the suicides of a young gay couple in Giarre
who had been discriminated against for their relationship (Patane). Today, Arcigay acts as an
umbrella organization for over 100 political, cultural, and recreational establishments in Italy
(Patane). To support Arcigay, some affiliated establishments (e.g. clubs or bars) require
customers to purchase an Archigay card (Patane). Customers are given the choice between an
annual card (15 euros) and a monthly card (8 euros), with a portion of the funds received from
this purchase going toward the funding the administration of Italys National Arcigay
Arcigay Roma has been active since the late 1980s, focusing primarily on fighting
homophobia and campaigning for equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in Italy through
community-building and activist events (Patane). Despite its beginnings as a group for gay men,
Arcigay Roma combined with Arcilesbian Roma and other Rome LGBTQ+ organizations in
2008 (Marrazzo). It has been located in Testaccio since April 2011 (Rome, Testaccio was born
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Global Rome: Global Cities
on Gay Center multipurpose facility will be inaugurated in April). According to Fabrizio
Marrazzo (current spokesman and past president of Arcigay Roma), the Center supports victims
of hate crimes, arranges social and educational events for the community, plans displays of
activism, offers HIV and syphilis testing, hosts support groups, and provides information through
its Gay Helpline (800 713 713). Additionally, Arcigay Roma connects LGBTQ+ youth and
refugees with shelter houses through a contract with the local police, who support the LGBTQ+
community (Marrazzo). Specific information on support group meeting times and Gay Helpline
Arcigay Roma is currently located in a two-story office building. On the main floor, you
will find the help desk, lobby, administrative office, and Gay Helpline Call Center. In the
basement, there is a large meeting space, library, and testing rooms. Posters and cardboard
cutouts for LGBTQ+-themed icons and films, including Pride and Milk, are scattered throughout
both floors. Other than speaking the Italian language, none of the Centers elements are
distinctively Italian, as further evidenced by the Centers garden being dedicated to Harvey Milk.
Harvey Milk is also represented by a bust (one of twelve in the world and the only one in
Europe) in the library. Arcigay Romas design prioritizes functionality over aesthetics, which is
utilizes a flamboyant art style to attract eyes and combat marginalization. However, Arcigay
Roma uses relatively plain colors for the most part because it currently serves as a semi-private
meeting place for people of sexual orientation and/or gender identity minorities and allies.
Despite its admirable efforts to achieve acceptance, Arcigay Roma has faced many
challenges, ranging from political backlash from Catholic Church leaders to structural challenges
within its building (Marrazzo). To make things worse, a pipe burst in Arcigay Roma in April
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Global Rome: Global Cities
2015 that did significant damage to its facilities, with most of the damage affecting its LGBTQ+
history library (Rome, Testaccio 'flooded' for broken pipe. Gay Center serious damage to our
history, and both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies have the unique opportunity to spread
awareness about these important and relevant issues when equal rights are being granted at a
For the benefit of Romes LGBTQ+ culture and by effect its economy, Rome should
focus on securing a higher degree of legal protection for LGBTQ+ people in Italy. Once
LGBTQ+ individuals are legally treated as equal to heterosexual individuals, Romes LGBTQ+
community will feel empowered to expand its visibility within the city and beyond. By speaking
with Fabrizio Marazzo (past president and current spokesman of Arcigay Roma), I learned that
programming about LGBTQ+ issues. This seems to be the goal of the European Union at large as
well, evidenced by the production of the Voice OUT! Program. This program was constructed by
the EUs NISO Project, consisting of LGBTQ+ organizations from Belgium, Estonia, Italy, and
the Netherlands (NISO Project). While fighting homophobia (and the often-overlooked
campaigning for more legal protections and rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in Italy. When the
law treats the minority group in the same way it treats the majority group, homophobia loses its
basis in legislation and becomes easier to fight in a purely social sense. When homophobia exerts
less influence on the publics perception of its LGBTQ+ community, Rome can continue to
cultivate its own LGBTQ+ culture and play a more prominent role in the global LGBTQ+
culture.
Chris Steckler
Global Rome: Global Cities
The global LGBTQ+ culture is most frequently represented by (and often most accessible
to) white gay cisgender males, and Romes LGBTQ+ culture is no different, as evidenced in its
most basic form by the use of the word gay in Gay Street and Arcigay Roma. Some may argue
that this tendency is due to a larger percentage of white gay cisgender males than other members
for the advancement of equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, as authenticity requires that one is
able to self-identify and present oneself in the manner that coincides with their true self. For
people to understand who they are, they need to know who they could be.
Chris Steckler
Global Rome: Global Cities
Works Cited
Arcigay Roma. "Gay Center: Gay and Lesbian Center." Gay Center. Arcigay Roma, 2015. Web.
6 Aug. 2015.
Florida, Richard, Karen King, and Charlotta Mellander. Rome. MPI, 2014. PDF file. 6 Aug.
2015.
Marrazzo, Fabrizio. "Interview with Fabrizio Marrazzo." Personal interview. 17 July 2015.
Maslow, A. H. "A Theory of Human Motivation." Classics in the History of Psychology. York
NISO Project. Voice OUT Toolkit. Rome: Province of Rome, 2012. Print.
Patane, Paul. "Arcigay in English." Arcigay. Arcigay, 29 Jan. 2002. Web. 20 July 2015.
Roma East Magazine. "Rome, Testaccio Was Born on Gay Center Multipurpose Facility Will Be
Inaugurated in April." Roma East Magazine. Roma East Magazine, 19 Feb. 2011. Web.
20 July 2015.
Roma Pride 2015. "Roma Pride 2015." Roma Pride. Roma Pride 2015, 2015. Web. 20 July 2015.
"Rome, Testaccio 'flooded' for Broken Pipe. Gay Center 'serious Damage to Our Headquarters'"
Sassen, Saskia. "The Global City: Introducing a Concept." The Brown Journal of World Affairs
Vogt, Andrea. "'We're Next' Says Italy after Irish Gay Marriage Vote." The Telegraph. Telegraph
Yoshino, Kenji, and Christie Smith. "Uncovering Talent: A New Model of Inclusion." Deloitte