Historic ruling for Gay Help Line 800.713.713, national toll-free number against homophobia and transphobia: the Court of Rome condemned the Kennedy Private High School of Rome who in 2019 had fired the teacher Giovanna Cristina Vivinetto because she is transgender, acknowledging the discriminatory motive. The teacher was assisted by a lawyer Silvia Claroni by Gay Help Line.
Vivinetto had turned to the in 2019 Gay Help Line contact center against homophobia and transphobia (800.713.713) because the Roman institute where she had been hired as a teacher had fired her after only three weeks. With a historic ruling that highlights the discriminatory element, the Court of Rome ordered the institute to pay compensation to the teacher, who was unfairly fired on the basis of prejudice related to her being a transgender woman.
Indeed, the court stated regarding the dismissal that: “The statements do not appear to indicate Professor Vivinetto's actual failure to fulfill her teaching duties. […] Furthermore, it appears at the very least premature for her to terminate her employment in such a short time, for reasons related to poor teaching ability, without giving the teacher the opportunity to acclimatize and acquire a full understanding of the personalized teaching plans to be applied to her students. […] Therefore, it can be considered adequately proven that the reasons that led the defendant company to terminate Vivinetto's employment are attributable precisely to her transgender status.
Pietro Turano, spokesperson for Gay Center, association that manages the Gay Help Line toll-free number He states: "Discrimination against trans people in Italian schools is violent and entrenched at all levels: among students, between teachers and students, but also at an institutional level. Indeed, we still mourn the death of Professor Chloe White, killed by the discriminatory hatred of the educational institutions that marginalized her. Gay Center reported to the Ministry of Education even the recent case of transphobia that occurred at Cavour High School of Rome, asking for a meeting with the Minister Valditara. Also in light of today's ruling, for which we are requesting the ministry's intervention with the affected school, we urge the Minister to meet with us. This historic ruling demonstrates once again that the country is ahead of politics, but also that this gap can be bridged.”