Connecting to Florence’s LGBTQ+ Community with IREOS

written by Jack Wardynski for SPEL: Journalism

In divisive times, it is important for individuals from vulnerable groups to seek guidance and support, and that is what IREOS aimed to do with its “Unveiling Pride” night at the Palazzi Community Center's Fedora Garden. Hosted by Florence University of the Arts (FUA), guest speakers Arianna Bontà, Matteo Petito, and Sonia Vecci took the time during an hour lecture to inform FUA students about Italy’s LGBTQ+ history, the current conditions for queer people, and the services that IREOS provides for those in the community.

IREOS is an association for gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and intersexual people living in Florence and Tuscany as a whole. The goal of IREOS is to empower LGBTQ+ individuals, encourage solidarity of marginalized groups, and bring awareness to issues facing the community. The association provides a variety of services and resources in order to accomplish these goals.

The association unofficially began working in the 1980s as a response to the HIV crisis that was directly affecting Italy during that period. IREOS was formally organized in 1997 and has been providing support to LGBTQ+ people in Tuscany ever since.

The IREOS counseling center offers advisory sessions both over the phone and in person. The association employs professional psychologists to help LGBTQ+ individuals with issues they may not feel comfortable seeking guidance for elsewhere. Group counseling sessions and general socialization are also offered through IREOS’s advisory center.

There are a number of social groups available through IREOS, covering a wide range of issues that may be faced within the LGBTQ+ community. The self-help group for LGBTQ+ senior people offers assistance to elderly queer people in and around Florence. The facilitated support group for parents is for guardians of trans children who are considering or have begun the transition process. There are also general support groups, parent and family groups, a meeting group for combating homonegativity, and a group focusing on assertiveness training.

“Besides all the services we offer, the main thing we do is create a safe space, of course for queer people, or anyone that needs a place to talk,” said Bontà. “We are basically a whole, big family, and everyone is welcome.”

At IREOS’s office at Via de’ Serragli 3, rapid HIV tests are offered upon appointment. The tests are free and anonymous. There is also a legal help desk available for dealing with family or labor law issues, threats, violence, or abuse.

The IREOS documentation center is tasked with collection and conserving LGBTQ+ documentation, literature, and film. It also gives individuals in Florence the opportunity to have their works published. The documentation center includes archives of a variety of queer newspapers in Italian, as well as essays on gender and fiction focusing on themes of homosexuality.

The library, along with IREOS as a whole, is supported completely by volunteer workers who are dedicated to improving the lives of people in marginalized groups in Florence. The invaluable and necessary work carried out by the association is dependent on individuals, both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community, dedicating their time to make their city a better place to live for everyone.

“We are looking for volunteers to come,” said Bontà. “We are even getting more volunteers from foreign universities.”

“We actually have two volunteers from Florence University of the Arts,” Petito revealed and said that IREOS is always looking for more people to pitch in, regardless of if they are native to Florence or not.

Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment remains extremely prevalent within Italy even to this day. Gay marriage is not legalized in the country, and while couples can enter a legally binding Civil Union, they are not allowed to adopt children. Often, in response to the limited option available, homosexual couples seek adoption services outside of the country,  with the unknown of whether the government will allow it upon their return. Italy also does not have universal anti-discrimination laws that would protect LGBTQ+ individuals from becoming the victims of hate crimes. Additionally, access to hormone replacement therapy has been threatened in recent years in certain regions across the nation as well.

“All the laws for inclusion came from queer people,” said Petito. “If queer people in Italy don’t act, probably nobody will… for all the work that we are doing with the association, it is very important to speak to people that are not in the community, because if they do not see us, it is not their problem.”

“But if they do see us and they do hear us, it means we’re there, it means we’re doing something, it means we’re sharing the message, so it’s very important for us,” said Bontà.

Volunteering remains a valuable way to contribute to the cause at IREOS. Additionally, activities like game-night Fridays, the queer book club, and the annual Florence Queer Festival offer opportunities to participate and show support for the association. Those interested in getting involved can e-mail info@ireos.org or come to Via de’ Serragli 3 during open hours.