Naples. “It is a beautiful initiative that values and defends diversity in a world that too often represses it. Many of these migrants come from contexts where individual uniqueness is often seen as a threat. This initiative is a beacon of hope that demonstrates how cultural diversity is a wealth.
Many of the migrants involved have had to flee from places where their identity was oppressed. Therefore, having the possibility of a place where there is welcome and respect for rights, and promoting paths of inclusion for the LGBTQI+ community, is not only a good thing, but it is natural that this happens in this city that has always made diversity a value”.
This was declared by the mayor of Napoli, Gaetano Manfredi, at the inauguration of 'Casa Arcobaleno', a new headquarters dedicated to migrants from the LGBTQI+ community in the San Giovanni a Teduccio neighborhood.
The facility will be a safe place set up to host up to six people, where refugees and asylum seekers can live and integrate into society. Managed by Arci Mediterraneo, an organization committed for years to promoting human rights and social inclusion, 'Casa Arcobaleno' is part of the national SAI program - Reception and Integration System - coordinated by the Central Service of the Anci and the Ministry of the Interior with the aim of providing support and accompaniment to asylum seekers and refugees.
“Today we are inaugurating the first facility in the South dedicated entirely to the LGBTQI+ community within the Integrated Reception System – underlined the CEO of Arci Mediterraneo, Mariano Anniciello – and it is important that this happens today, with the president of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, demonstrating the great and renewed sensitivity of the Anci not only towards migrants, but towards all minorities and civil rights”.
The initiative, unique in its kind in Southern Italy, was desired by Mayor Manfredi to offer an opportunity to LGBTQI+ migrants present in the area and to protect the rights of such a vulnerable community against violence and gender discrimination.
“We offer these immigrants or refugees, who come from countries where homosexuality is punished as a crime even with death, protection with respect to their fragility and their diversity – said the Councilor for Social Policies, Luca Trapanese – I am obviously proud because this concerns me personally, I thank Arci Mediterraneo for the great sensitivity and we are also working for other structures of this kind.
If it is possible that in Italy a single gay man has adopted a child for the first time – concluded Trapanese – Naples shows itself to be in first place, once again, with respect to the issues of diversity”. For the Councilor for Equal Opportunities, Emanuela Ferrante, “we have taken another very important step forward thanks to the ability and availability of ARCI Mediterraneo who will manage this structure to welcome those immigrants who are most discriminated against in the LGBTQI+ community.
After that of Marco Carelli, the first in Italy, today we are opening this house in the South and it is an important message that we are also sending to the government. Naples continues to stand out in these battles also thanks to the mayor, always on the front line, and now even more so as president of Anci”. In addition to a safe roof, the guests of the facility will have access to psychological, legal and educational support, with personalized paths aimed at promoting their autonomy and full integration into society.
"These people come here from countries where there are laws that are highly punitive and restrictive towards freedom - said the president of the association Antinoo Arcigay Napoli, Antonello Sannino - and Casa Arcobaleno offers them a protected reception path. I believe that this is an important act of civility that comes once again from our city, from the South, where there is the only municipal reception house for this community that is a victim of discrimination and marginalization".
Article published on 10 January 2025 - 20:51
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The initiative is interesting and shows how Naples is committed to protecting the rights of migrants. However, there are many challenges to be faced to ensure that these inclusion paths really work for everyone. We hope this is a step forward.