Two rulings in favour of trans people. And spring is on the way.
Italy
Italy is a bit behind other EU nations in its trans rights. However, A court in Avezzano, Central Italy, has accepted that a young petitioner may change the name and sex marking on his birth certificate without the need for medical transition such as hormone therapy. The non-binary person, who has requested anonymity following online abuse, seems to be the first to be acknowledged in this way. Until now it was expected that a person would transition via the medical route before their gender was accepted and documents altered.
This is good news and marks a step closer to gender self-declaration in Italy. However, this is a local court and there could be contradictory rulings elsewhere in future that would require an overarching ruling or guidance from a higher court.
UN Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, an agency of the United Nations that aims to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law, has voted decisively to call on its 46 member states to ban conversion therapy against LGBTQ+ people. Some countries have already banned the practice but Italy and the UK have yet to do so.
Spring
The great Roman writer Varro stated in his manual on agriculture that spring in the Mediterranean begins on February 7th*. Which was last Saturday. It wasn't actually the nicest of days as we still had the tail end of the lousy weather system that's been drenching much of Western Europe for some weeks. Nevertheless, I went to Nice for the Saturday markets. When there's a leaden sky over the French riviera, the water inshore takes on the most unusual glowing pale turquoise colour. None of my photo devices can do it justice but this gives a bit of an idea.
The Saturday book market in the square in front of the courthouse sells not just old books but also records, posters, paintings and similar. I loved both Tintin and Star Wars as a child and I couldn't resist this mock Tintin book cover!
Additionally, Luggy the LGBT Crab, who often accompanies me on my travels, has a new companion, a blue lobster.
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(Incidentally, readers insisted that I name the bat corkscrew I got for Christmas. I've decided on Ozzy, for reasons that should be ozvious. And that's the first and last time I name any of my kitchen utensils!)
It's now decidedly warmer and sunnier and I have got an itch to do some spring cleaning and gardening this week. I've set to it with a will with my rubber gloves and apron on!
More curious local culture
Last week I mentioned the Codfish Race in Cantalupo. This coming Saturday is the "Belli e Brutti" (Handsome and Ugly) Carneval in the village of Suvero where people dress either in colourful outfits with bells and ribbons or in dark, shaggy costumes with blackened faces and horns. They knock on doors and, whilst the man of the house prepares refreshments for the, er, guests, the Belli dance with the womenfolk as the Brutti stand by and make sarcastic remarks. No one has any idea how old this festival is but a pagan origin seems highly likely. Do the Belli and Brutti symbolise good and evil, or spring and winter, or something else? No-one knows. Apparently, the costumes are often handed down from generation to generation. Maybe the Belli outfits gave Boy George some of his inspiration?
Enjoy the Winter Olympics if you're watching. 16 different effortful ways to slide around in the cold! It makes me want a holiday in the tropics!
* Marcus Terentius Varro, De Re Rustica, Book I, chapter 28. I give this reference so you know it's not an internet or AI or conspiracy nut 'fact'.
Sue xx
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