Yesterday in Milan the most 'political' of Pride events: hence the 'shoulder', as has been said, for the approval of the Zan law. Here are some of the most significant things said from the stage at the event.
Alessandro Zan: "Those who criticise the law have never read it.. We cannot mediate on the living flesh of people. Taking away a piece of the law can have very serious repercussions. Removing gender identity means abandoning trans people. If it is removed, don't call it Zan law anymore.".
In truth perhaps no text of law has been more widely read and scrutinised than the Zan ddl: Zan's remark is dismissive and untrue. In addition Removing gender identity does not at all mean abandoning trans people. Replacing gender identity with transgender identity rather means naming trans people, which the law does not do, promoting instead an intangible perception that is quite different from the concrete reality of transgender people.
Monica Romanotranswoman: "No more judges, no more psychiatrists. Our struggle is intersectional or it will not be".
Guglielmo Giannottatransman: "We are against the trans business that denies self-determination to trans people. No more psychologists, psychiatrists, judges. I don't need anyone to live as a trans person. Law 164/82 -on rectification of civil status after sex change, ed.- is outdated and incomplete. In Lombardy we want to be the beacon, let's change the procedures at regional level. It should be an administrative procedure, as in many states.".
Both Monica Romano and Guglielmo Giannotta therefore confirm that gender identity is the real core of the Zan ddl, the first step towards gender self-certification or self-id.
Barbara Toncelli, transfeminist: "Trans women are women, perhaps even more than others. There is a extremist section of feminism which excludes them, mirroring patriarchal schemes".
We are the extremists.
Maria Elena Mantovani, Rainbow Families, requests registration on the birth certificate of the non-biological parent and "the free access to assisted reproduction techniques (PMA and surrogacy, ed.) for all, adoption and fostering, secular and inclusive schooling".
Another programme point, the decriminalisation of the use of surrogacy, is again confirmed.
Beppe SalaMayor of Milan, asks that the bill be approved without amendments and as soon as possible: "On the Zan bill, I think in a dry and pragmatic way. If there was time for discussion, we would discuss it. But those who don't want it just want to move it on. ITime is up. I say to my political party, let's go and count ourselves in Parliament, we run the risk of counting. The message coming out of Milan is: let's quickly approve the Zan".
In truth time to discuss -and this is a subject that deserves a very wide discussion-. there would be, and should always be. This is certainly not an issue on which to be 'dry and pragmatic'. This is not about the approval of a public work. But everything was done not to discuss and to pass it in a hurry in the Senate as well as in the House. This is certainly not an issue on which to be 'dry and pragmatic'. This is not about the approval of a public work. The mayor is in an election campaign and has decided to force the issue, knowing full well that his position does not represent the reasoned criticism of a large part of the Milanese population.
Marina Terragni
