A few days ago we published a report of the race of Valentina born Fabrizio Petrillo in Ancona, with the reactions of female athletes beaten by his male body. The athletes made it clear that, although they respect Petrillo's personal path, athletically they are not on a par and that feel discriminated against.
Le statements made by the athletes to the Feminist Post have been taken up by other newspapers, including The Newspaper (here), and have caused comments by Petrillo who accused those who expressed reservations about his participation in women's competitions of Nazism and xenophobia
and announced that 'for reasons of security and personal safety' he will not participate in the World Masters Indoor Championships in Torun (Poland), 26 March-1 April 2023.
An example of the 'threats' to her safety is this picture of her Polish competitor Malgorzata Gąsowska, who, it seems, is not resigned to being beaten.
Petrillo, who competes in the Omero Bergamo jersey, released aninterview to the local editorial office of the Corriere della Sera in which he says: 'A male athlete in Ancona accused me of wanting to win easy and invited me to run in his category. To all these people, I point out that I respect the rules, I do not accept accusations based on nothing. I am a victim of gender hatred, as serious as xenophobia towards an athlete who is not considered Italian because she is black, like Paola Egonu'.
Furthermore, Petrillo commented on the decision of the FIDAL (Italian Athletics Federation) to award him a dedicated changing room, after the request submitted by 30 female athletes represented by lawyer-athlete Mariuccia Fausta Quilleri (we gave you the news here).
Petrillo himself admits to the Courier of Bergamo that the women's toilets and changing rooms 'in Italy are on sight', i.e. there are no individual showers, so you undress and wash in close contact with your teammates or opponents.
The journalist says: "There are those who have expressed discomfort at sharing a shower with a person who, at present, has the body of a man."
Petrillo's reply: 'I don't think the person who wrote that comment has never seen male genitalia. And anyway no one has ever seen me naked. I shower in my costume; nor do I see women, as I have severe visual impairment".
Namely, as gender identity theory dictates, the body does not count, only individual desires count, little does it matter if they harm other people. But even if the body doesn't count, the female athletes have already seen male genitalia,' says Petrillo, 'so what's the problem with them showering next to mine? E to guarantee privacy for female athletes would be enough.
The problem of male bodies in female spaces is therefore not easily solved by dedicating a separate space to trans people. We have to get to the heart of the matter, recognising the importance of the body and sexual difference.
One cannot consider an individual sensation more important than the reality of bodies. And the legal recognition of 'sex change' - while keeping the sex intact - only complicates the problem.
The issue of gender self-determination will be crucial at the next US elections -as the Republicans have well understood, but also Hillary Clinton-, and Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish independence government has already fallen over the Self ID law.
Which path will Italian politicians take?
Maria Celeste
