Fighting HIV Through Intersectionality: Queer and Trans Activism in 1980s Italy

What can the queer fight against HIV in 1980s Italy teach us about confronting today’s global challenges, as anti-LGBT policies dominate the agendas of many Western governments, media-fueled fears of migration impede people’s mobilities and rights to stay, and public health faces crises due to disinvestment? How did racialized gender minorities challenge systemic neglect and misinformation, and what lessons do their politics hold for reshaping public health and justice today? Contemporary crises reflect enduring struggles that, while foundational, have often been overlooked, marginalized, or overshadowed by dominant narratives. Thus, this project offers the first comprehensive study to explore intersectional activism against HIV in Italy, focusing on the period from the 1980s to the 1990s.