Schools: a surge in signatures for the referendum on sex and emotional education in just seven days

There has been a surge in signatures for the referendum ‘Yes to emotional and sexual education in schools’, which aims to repeal the Valditara law that introduced restrictive regulations on emotional and sexual education in schools. Seven days after the campaign began, 22 per cent of the half a million signatures required have been collected; so far, there are 114,670.

The law which introduces, amongst other things, the requirement for prior, informed written consent from parents for pupils to take part in extracurricular activities relating to issues concerning sexuality (activities from which nursery and primary schools are, however, excluded) was passed last June. The parliamentary process was long and turbulent because the bill was highly divisive, featuring ‘stop-and-go’ delays and heated clashes between the opposition and Minister Giuseppe Valditara over a hypothetical ‘gender ideology’ which, according to the majority, would shape the ‘minds’ of young people. Sexual and emotional education exists in most European countries, whilst the opposition, led by Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, has described it as a ‘disaster’ that ‘will further restrict education on diversity, which is the primary means of preventing bullying, gender-based violence and homophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia and transphobia’.

According to the proponents, the current legislation significantly hinders teaching in this area. In particular, they explain, “it prohibits the discussion of issues relating to sexuality in nursery and primary schools”; “requires schools to seek written authorisation from families, giving seven days’ notice for each activity” and “obliges teachers to remove pupils from the classroom if they do not have such permission”. With the repeal, however, “sexual and emotional education will once again become an inclusive school activity, on a par with other extracurricular options approved by parents, teachers and pupils through the Three-Year Educational Programmes”.
The organising committee comprises Fabrizio Marrazzo, Marina Zela, Eliodoro Belmare, Giovanna Cremona, Alessandra Feola, Giampiero Guidotti, Cristiano Ceriello, Stefano Ladarola, Elona Nderjaku, Andrea Vania, Polidoro Zeray Jordanos and Lucia Fusco. The first two are LGBT+ activists and spokespersons for the initiative.