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Laura Montecchio
On 11 September 2024, the Culture, Science and Education Commission of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution proposal from the populist radical right Lega to ban the so-called “gender propaganda” in schools. The implications of this motion remain unclear, but its supporters – Lega and Fratelli d'Italia – frame it as a defence of adolescents, claiming they aim to protect them from propaganda aimed at spreading what they call “gender ideology”. A particular target of this narrative has been Drag Queens, with proponents of the motion suggesting that such figures should not have influence in shaping the minds of young Italians.
This proposal signals a broader trend within the populist radical right, both in Italy and across Europe. The attacks on this alleged “gender ideology”, a term frequently invoked to denounce feminist and LGBTIQ activism, is by no means new in Italy. The rhetoric surrounding this proposal closely mirrors the debate over the rejected Zan bill in 2021, as I highlighted in an article recently published in The International Spectator. Named after then-MP of the Partito Democratico, Alessandro Zan, the bill sought to criminalise hate crimes based on homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny, while also extending protections to women and people with disabilities. However, both Lega and Fratelli d’Italia successfully rallied against the bill, painting it as a vehicle for gender indoctrination and a threat to freedom of expression. In their view, the legislation was part of a broader attempt to impose progressive values that they argued are at odds with Italy’s cultural traditions.
The 11 September resolution is thus part of a larger pattern in which the Italian populist radical right positions itself as the guardian of children and adolescents and, by extension, the country’s values and cultural heritage. By presenting their policies as efforts to protect youth, the populist radical right appeals to a rhetoric that taps into deeply ingrained anxieties among conservative voters about the erosion of traditional family and gender role structures.
By framing their opposition to LGBTIQ rights as a matter of protecting children and adolescents, these parties effectively avoid direct confrontation about inclusive gender identity and sexuality discourses while still mobilising their base around issues of cultural identity. The protection of the “natural” family – one led by a mother and a father – remains central to this narrative.
This approach has been particularly successful in Italy, a country where the influence of the Catholic Church and traditional values remains strong. As such, Italy continues to lag behind many of its European counterparts when it comes to gender equality and the promotion and recognition of LGBTIQ rights. While countries like Spain and France have passed progressive legislation aimed at advancing the rights of LGBTIQ communities, as well as women, Italy has been slower to embrace such changes, due in part to the sustained influence of populist radical right parties.
As the debate over “gender propaganda” unfolds, it is clear that Italy’s political landscape is still deeply polarised. The radical right’s use of children and adolescents as the focal point of their cultural and political battles allows them to push their agenda without appearing overtly discriminatory, framing their opposition to LGBTIQ rights as a noble fight for the preservation of family values and the protection of society’s most vulnerable members. Yet, this strategy leaves Italy’s whole population more vulnerable, as its rights are sacrificed in the name of traditionalism.
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