Table Of Content“An inspiring book and a needed roadmap for LGBTQI activists in
Italy to become more aware of each other's efforts, strengthen net-
works,and spearhead joint initiativesfortheprotection and promotion
of human and civil rights.”
Lorenza Parisi, Associate Professor in Sociology of Culture and
Communication, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy
“ThisbookofferspowerfulinsightsintohowLGBTQIhumanrightsin
Italy are directly impacted by digital media and how the latter can be
leveraged for positive change.”
Antonio López, Associate Professor of Communications and Media
Studies, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
LGBTQI Digital Media Activism and
Counter-Hate Speech in Italy
LGBTQIDigitalMediaActivismandCounter-HateSpeechinItalyanalyzes
theorganizationalcommunicationpracticesofItalianLGBTQIactivists.
The book investigates digital media activism practices, and how,
throughartifactsofpoliticalengagement,activistsarechampioningsocial
change through non-violent communications. The author also inter-
rogates whether legal means are enough to combat hate and promote a
cultureofhumanrights.
This book is an essential read for students and scholars interested in
LGBTQ rights and activism.
SaraGabaihasworked in Asia and Central Asiawith European Union-
funded programs, UN agencies, academic institutions, the private sector,
NGOs,civilsocietyorganizationsandlocalcommunities,oncommunica-
tion for development initiatives. Her passion and expertise range from
humanrightstodigitalmediaactivismandfreedomofexpression,media
literacy education, gender and women’s economic empowerment, envir-
onmentalandsustainabilityissues.SaraearnedherPhDinHumanRights
andPeaceStudies(2021)fromtheInstituteofHumanRightsandPeace,
Mahidol University, Thailand, an MSc in Gender, Media and Culture
fromtheLondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScience(LSE),anda
BA in Communications and a Minor in English Literature from John
CabotUniversity,Italy.
Focus on Global Gender and Sexuality
The Poetry of Arab Women from the Pre-Islamic Age to Andalusia
Wessam Elmeligi
Interviews with Mexican Women
We Don’t Talk About Feminism Here
Carlos M. Coria-Sanchez
Pornography, Indigeneity and Neocolonialism
Tim Gregory
Reading Iraqi Women’s Novels in English Translation
Iraqi Women’s Stories
Ruth Abou Rached
Gender Hierarchy of Masculinity and Femininity during the Chinese
Cultural Revolution
Revolutionary Opera Films
Zhuying Li
Representations of Lethal Gender-Based Violence in Italy Between
Journalism and Literature
Femminicidio Narratives
Nicoletta Mandolini
LGBTQI Digital Media Activism and Counter-Hate Speech in Italy
Sara Gabai
https://www.routledge.com/Focus-on-Global-Gender-and-Sexuality/book-
series/FGGS
LGBTQI Digital Media
Activism and Counter-Hate
Speech in Italy
Sara Gabai
Firstpublished2022
byRoutledge
4ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN
andbyRoutledge
605ThirdAvenue,NewYork,NY10158
RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninforma
business
©2022SaraGabai
TherightofSaraGabaitobeidentifiedasauthorofthisworkhas
beenassertedinaccordancewithsections77and78ofthe
Copyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedor
reproducedorutilisedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,
orothermeans,nowknownorhereafterinvented,including
photocopyingandrecording,orinanyinformationstorageor
retrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublishers.
Trademarknotice:Productorcorporatenamesmaybetrademarks
orregisteredtrademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationand
explanationwithoutintenttoinfringe.
BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritish
Library
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Acatalogrecordhasbeenrequestedforthisbook
ISBN:978-1-032-27054-8(hbk)
ISBN:978-1-032-27060-9(pbk)
ISBN:978-1-003-28995-1(ebk)
DOI:10.4324/9781003289951
TypesetinTimesNewRoman
byTaylor&FrancisBooks
Contents
List of figures viii
Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction 1
2 Theanti-gendercountermovementandthebacklashagainst
equality 9
3 Subversive media activism and the rise of the movement 33
4 Organizational communication practices of Italian
LGBTQI activists 50
5 Re-envisioning human rights through rhetorical activism 82
6 Effects of legislation on attitudes toward LGBTQI people 103
7 Conclusion 123
Index 137
Figures
2.1 Main actors in the Italian anti-gender movement based on
Paternotte and Kuhar’s (2018) categories 18
2.2 Changes in discourse of pro-life and anti-gender groups
(2013–2020) 22
4.1 Actors’ key thematic areas of work 51
Acknowledgments
The work that has been presented in this book would have not
been possible without the continuous support of my mentors, who
have stood by my side, near and far, all the steps of this journey.
First and foremost, I want to thank Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree,
who always encouraged me to take an intersectional approach to
the study of human rights, peace, conflict and media, valuing my
knowledge and strengths, and at the same time always pushing me
to go further and beyond to expand these to other areas of
research and inquiry. My gratitude also goes to Dr. Antonio
López, who, over a decade ago, opened the doors to the fascinat-
ing world of media, communications and critical cultural studies,
and whose teachings continue to inspire my everyday work and
practice. I am also grateful to Dr. Lorenza Parisi, whose insights
and knowledge of the LGBTQI social movement in Italy brought
me closer to my roots, allowing me to conduct this research more
confidently.
I have always been a strong believer that academic knowledge
must necessarily inform resistance and activism on the ground. Our
role as researchers, educators and activists is to bridge the gaps that
exist at the intersection of theory and practice. Hence, this book is
dedicated to all the representatives of Italian LGBTQI organizations
who have taken part in this study and who have shared their
knowledge and insights with me, driven by the shared and common
commitment to raise awareness about those who are tirelessly
working to advance a more emancipatory agenda for gender and
human rights in Italy.
Thanks also to my family for always encouraging me to follow
my dreams and passions, leading me to where I am today. Last, but
not least, I want to express my gratitude to my partner M.T., who
has always believed in my potential and supported me in every
