Right-wing sexual politics and anti-gender mobilization in Italy. Key features and latest development

The chapter analyses right-wing sexual politics in Italy in the context of the « anti-gender » mobili-zation that emerged in the last decade. The aim is to understand how the « gender ideology » framework has been exploited by right-wing social and political actors to mobilize against the legis-lative reforms linked to LGBT rights and the de-naturalization of gender identities. Two main paradoxes are discussed. One relates to the alliance among right-wing social and political actors, the Vatican and groups linked to the Catholic Church. The other concerns how to promote anti-LGBT politics while formally embracing the principle of sexual equality to avoid being accused of homophobia.