At this year’s Milano Pride, I had the honour of taking the stage during the final rally in Porta Venezia.
I was invited to speak as a city councillor and as the proposer of a motion—approved by the Milan City Council—that introduced the use of chosen names (alias) for transgender employees of the Municipality and for public transport passes issued by ATM, the Milan Transport Authority.
I spoke of rights and democracy. I spoke of how Pride continues to be, above all else, a political event. The LGBTQIA+ community has always demanded more than tolerance—it has fought for recognition, dignity, and equality. We do not accept being reduced to a niche, to a “theme” or a stereotype. Our lives are complex, our identities plural, and our demands rooted in the democratic principle of full citizenship for all.
The motion I authored was born from listening to the trans community in Milan. It is the result of political work grounded in institutions and built on relationships—with activists, with trade unions, with people.
When I first entered the Council chamber, I did so with the awareness that I was making history. But I also knew that symbolic victories are not enough. That’s why I committed to concrete legislative action. The right to be called by one’s chosen name may seem simple—but for many transgender people, it means the difference between invisibility and dignity.
I am proud that Milan is now one of the few Italian cities where a trans person can use their chosen name at work or on their metro card—without having to undergo legal or medical procedures they may not want or be able to afford. This initiative aligns with international best practices for trans inclusion, such as those promoted by OutRight International and ILGA-Europe.
This is what politics must do: create freedom, remove obstacles, and build spaces where everyone can live with authenticity and without fear.