Politics must not leave anyone out

After a journey through activism and politics, you became the first trans woman elected to the Milan City Council. How did you experience this role within the institutions, also in terms of its symbolic and representational significance? And what spaces do you believe still need to be claimed to achieve full citizenship for trans people?
I don’t believe that being someone who has gone through a gender affirmation journey represents a “role” — rather, it’s a personal condition, like eye color, skin color, or gender itself. I’ve always thought that what truly matters are one’s skills — in education, in work, and even more so in politics. At the risk of sounding immodest, I know I was elected not because I’m a trans* woman, but because I’m a credible professional, with a wealth of experience that resonated with many citizens of Milan. During my election campaign, I didn’t ask for votes as a trans* person, nor did I build my communication around my identity. I spoke to people about what mattered to them: work, social rights, gender equality, the environment, young people, the future. And I was heard, recognized, elected. The majority of my voters don’t belong to the LGBTQIA+ community, and I believe that’s an important and positive sign. Being the first trans woman elected to Palazzo Marino certainly held symbolic value, but I never sought visibility as an end in itself. My presence on the Council was, above all, a responsibility: to demonstrate that full citizenship comes through democratic participation, and that identity is not an obstacle, but one of the many facets of human life. There is still much to be done for the citizenship of trans* people who live in conditions of disadvantage and marginalization: stable access to employment, healthcare, housing, and representation. As long as these dimensions are denied or made fragile for a portion of the population, we cannot truly speak of full citizenship.

Over the years, you’ve promoted several concrete initiatives, such as the alias name option for City of Milan employees and on ATM transit passes. At the same time, you’ve worked to protect labor rights, both as a politician and as a DEI consultant. What kind of impact have these efforts had, and why is it important for rights to be reflected in everyday aspects of life as well?
The possibility of adopting an alias name extended to all City of Milan employees—a group of over 13,000 people—as well as the option to obtain ATM transit passes with one’s chosen name are examples of small-scale interventions with a high impact. These are not just symbolic gestures, but concrete measures that improve lives: being able to travel without facing forced outing and being recognized as fully legitimate individuals in the workplace. As a councilor and DEI consultant, I have always worked to ensure that rights don’t remain abstract claims but are translated into regulations, practices, and solutions. Dignity can also be measured in a card, a badge, or an interaction free from embarrassment. Effective policies live in real life. All of this has gone hand in hand with a commitment to the rights of everyone: I have fought and will continue to fight for a guaranteed minimum wage for municipal workers hired through cooperatives, for better conditions for delivery riders, against the outsourcing of SEA workers, and for the defense of workers’ rights in the broadest sense.

We are witnessing a global escalation of transphobia, even in contexts that claim to be democratic. How much do you think the transphobic narrative—TERF discourse in particular—affects public opinion and policies (especially those related to bodies), and what do you consider the most urgent responses to counter it?
The transphobic narrative, especially in its “gender-critical” feminist form, is among the most insidious attacks on human rights. It presents itself as theoretical reflection, but produces exclusion, violence, and stigmatization. In an era marked by identity crises and authoritarian drift, transphobia is a political strategy. Actions are needed on multiple levels: a national law against homo-lesbo-transphobia, awaited for thirty years; a firmer Europe against illiberal regimes. I think of the ban on Pride 2025 in Hungary: it is not only an attack on the LGBTQIA+ community but on democracy itself. As I said in the City Council, Prides are strongholds of freedom. Defending them means defending democracy.