We hear a lot about social issues in America. 

Discrimination and racism, obesity, foreign relations, inequality of the sexes, illegal immigration, governmental control, ableism, etc.—the United States is going through quite a bit of turmoil lately when it comes to social change. You can read about it everywhere, especially on social networks like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, and even Wattpad (just look at any rantbook written by a POC). Learning about these social injustices has awoken me, which is why I now have a low tolerance for ignorant bullshit. I need to carry an epipen around. 

Ever since I've moved back to my home country, Italy, I've started realising shit.

Like how backwards the mentality of a lot of Italians is. Despite this country having led the world in art, science, literature, and culinary arts for centuries, Italy is now known for its corruption and archaic traditionalism. It's embarassing how many Italians are very resistant to change—I had this epiphany during lunch with my grandmother for the first time in four years.

I always knew she was outspoken about her opinions, that she had something negative to say about anything and everything, but I never realised just how racist and homophobic she was until that very moment, when, as an adult, I actually paid close attention to the things she said. When, after years of being out, I returned more cultured and acceptant of differences.

Unfortunately, this doesn't apply only to my grandmother, who still prefers the Italy of back in the day, when those "filthy blacks" weren't invading the country and "the gays" weren't getting married (topic which I will soon get to), but the same can be saidof other people her age, the generation after, and even of some millenials. 

It's hard to sit at the table and hear her hateful spiels—no amount of 'schooling' and euphemisms will get her to understand that her toxic mentality is wrong, and that choosing to not keep up with the times is stupid. Not even that she never left her neighbourhood (which still doesn't justify bigotry), she's travelled and experienced the outside world as well, which makes me ask, why are Italians like this? 

Their conservatism can only be attributed to the Vatican, the heart of the Catholic faith and Rome. Religion in Italy still has its claws in politics, even though, in theory, in the 21st century the two should NOT cross over, especially when Catholicism isn't the only religion practiced in the country. We aren't limited only to Christianity. Pope Francesco made a big point of this through his meeting with his two closest friends: a rabbi and a Muslim leader.

Which brings me to my next point, which is institutionalised homophobia.

Some Italians are openly homophobic, others are not, but it's all the same thing:

*high-fives Morgan Freeman*

There have been a lot of scandals in Italy regarding this in the past, just take the 2013 Barilla boycott  as an example. The owner, Guido Barilla, publicly declared that he would never feature same-sex couples in his ads because he prefers a "traditional family" and "gays can get their pasta elsewhere." How fucking stupid can you be? It didn't take long for people to get pissed about it and stop buying his products not only in Italy, but also internationally, because the mere notion is simply ridiculous. He then went on to make amends to his idiocy, but the damage is there: the man tarnished the reputation of his brand, forever. 

There have been some baby steps made towards improvement, such as the Cirinnà bill.

Finally—after a huge lag behind other members of the European Union—in the beginning of May, Italy has enacted a civil union status for same-sex couples. The big day itself and the lead up  were covered by news channels all over the country, over and over, because for Iraly, this was almost like the news of the century. Ever since gay marriage was legalised in America, I wondered whether this day would ever actually come. 

It was like an epic showdown between the LGBTQ+ community and the Vatican.

Hoardes of Catholics protested against civil unions, screaming it's "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! "Being gay is a sin!" "God will punish you!" (the basic rhetoric). 

The LGBTQ+ community retaliated by waving freedom flags and chanting that everybody deserves equal rights.

When the bill was passed, it was LGBTQ+ community: 1, Vatican: 0. 

The pope did say, back in 2015, however (and he still holds this belief) that:

"There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family."

LGBTQ+ community 1, Vatican: 1. 

I guess both parties got what they wanted?

(A/N: Question to members of the LGBTQ+ community—What are YOUR feelings on gay marriage and civil unions? Do you want it to be called 'gay marriage' or something else? Some don't want it to be called 'marriage' because marriage implies a heterosexual union. There are a lot of different opinons, but I'd be interested to know yours!) 

I'm going to quote Macklemore's Same Love—I could quote the whole song because it's all relevant— because he's the bomb and makes a lot of great points: 

"Gay is synonymous with the lesser

It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion

Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment

The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins

It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!"

*sips tea* *tosses boiling tea on homopho—I mean, assholes* *cackles*

LOVE IS LOVE!!!!!! 

Why does it matter TO YOU whether a same-sex couple wants to get married? How does someone having a different sexual orientation from yours have an impact on YOUR LIFE?? 

LIVE AND LET LIVE PEOPLE. THEY AREN'T HURTING NO ONE BY CHOOSING A SAME-SEX PARTNER OVER YOU. AND NO, THEY WON'T HIT ON YOUR UGLY ASS, SO STOP BEING SO SELF-CENTERED AND ENTITLED.

Even though Italy has created this new bill which, despite including cohabitation, pension, healthcare, and prison assistance rights it still DOES NOT include the step-child adoption. The Pope is against adoptions into same-sex unions, so unfortunately, that probably won't happen in the near future. (He also tends to change his mind a lot, so who knows?)

Institutionalised homophobia has yet to be completely erased. I'm proud of my country for FINALLY making such an important step towards a better integration of the LGBTQ+ community, but it still has a long way to go.

I'm all for some social change. 

-:-

I feel like I've written some kind of fucked up visual essay of some sort, but I've decided to add a biblio  to prove that I haven't pulled out info and quotes out of my ass. (Is Buzzfeed really a reliable site? I think so. I follow their stuff on FB and a lot of what is said in the article I've seen with my own eyes so...)

By the way, what did you think of this rant? Please let me know! I've tried to be both bitter and informative, and I hope I didn't offend anyone. 

Bibliography:

Barcellona, Capucine. "Italy: Religion, Pasta, And... Homophobia?" ROOSTERGNN. ROOSTERGNN, 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 28 May 2016.

Feder, J. Lester. "Italy Finally Creates Civil Unions For Same-Sex Couples." BuzzFeed. Buzzfeed News, 11 May 2016. Web. 28 May 2016.

Goldhill, Olivia. "Confused about the Pope's Thoughts on Gay Rights? No Wonder." Quartz. ATLAS, 03 Oct. 2015. Web. 28 May 2016.

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Is there something that you're itching to complain about, but have the good sense not to do so on a public forum? I can do it for you! Feel free to PM me with the topic you want me to rant about, and I won't think twice before adding it here. I'll be waiting!