Gender designation in Italy, by Dario Pio Muccilli

Italian linguistic scholars were caught off guard by a wave of criticism of the lack of a neutral form in Italian to call non-binary people, who feel discriminated because of it.

While a solution to this has not been agreed upon, proposals include the usage of a schwa (a backwards ‘e’)or an asterisk to replace the ending vowel, which for centuries have defined gender for every Italian word.

Institutions such schools, colleges and public offices have still not received a directive from government, causing every institution to come up with their own solution, with the most divergent results.

In schools, where we can affirm that language study is kept alive, the issue is felt keenly by students. The dialectical confrontation between students on the one hand and teachers and deans on the other has given life to different scenarios.

In Turin the Classical Lyceum “Cavour”, one of the top high-schools in the country, decided to adopt the asterisk in its official documents, causing the prompt reaction of far-right politicians against the LGBTQ+ rights.

Augusta Montaruli, MP for Brothers of Italy (a post-fascist movement), stated “There’s a way to be inclusive that does not damage the language. That is teaching our children the courage to stand for their identity, without hiding themselves behind an asterisk. That is the school’s role and I hope the Government will defend it.”

Matteo Salvini, leader of the League Party, known for his anti-LGBTQ+ slant, went against Cavour’s decision: “It’s a mad race towards nothing”.

Moved by the two politicians, many far-right students protested in front of the Lyceum with posters, flyers, slogans. A brawl occurred with those students in favor of the measure.

The latter was defended by the Dean of the Lyceum, Enzo Salcone: “Our fundamental law forbids any discrimination. We did nothing revolutionary, except respecting what’s said in the state’s Constitution. We’re a demanding school where there’s care of the people”

However, not many schools followed Salcone’s lead, as elsewhere the dialectical confrontation did not reach an acceptable agreement as for gender neutrality.

In Pisa, the city of the leaning tower, a school, Lyceum “Dini”, was occupied five days in November due to the refusal of the Dean and some teachers to approve the Alias career for a transgender student.

Alias career is a way for transgender student to get recognized their new identity and name at school, while the legal procedures for changing them officially is not completed.

The refusal caused a mess and a 1968-style occupation of the school for five days, which was heavily covered in the press.

In Milan’s Lyceum “Bottoni,” a teacher did not teach a lesson in his class due to the skirts worn by male students wanting to send a powerful signal against gender violence.

“I do not want to teach some transvestites’ ‘ seems to have said the teacher, who was soon scolded by the Dean, Giovanna Mezzatesta, who advocated the constitutional right to study of the alums.

All those cases reflect a deep need in the youths for change, even if this one is not easy to reach.

Whether changing the language is the solution or not, It doesn’t really matter. The Crusca, top authority in Italian linguistic science, has already excluded the usage of the schwa and asterisk as a solution to the gender discrimination, which in its opinion should be tackled, but in a different way.

True or not, after all the mess, those who rule the country should bear in mind how hurtful is the malaise spreading through the youth, and they should understand opposing the language innovation is more a political stand than a true effort to provide a solution.

Because, willing or not, those guys in the schools are the future establishment of the country, the future people who will matter, and soon or later they will address the problem and blame those who, in the past, didn’t do it for political convenience.

Dario Pio Muccilli

Dario Pio Muccilli is the Star-Revue’s Italian correspondent, based in Turin. Email him at [email protected]