At the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023 (an awards ceremony organized by the Italian fashion federation Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana), designer Donatella Versace received the Equality and Inclusion Award for her support of the LGBTQI+ community. And she took the opportunity to denounce the proliferation of restrictive laws against LGBTQI+ people since Giorgia Meloni came to power.
Donatella Versace: “Our government is trying to take away people’s right to live as they want”
During the evening which took place on 24 September 2023, at the closing of Milan Fashion Week, at the Teatro alla Scala, the singer Marco Mengoni (who brandished an LGBTQI+ flag during his performance at Eurovision 2023, where he represented Italy) introduced the artistic director of Versace by presenting her as a queer icon.
Donatella Versace then received the Equality and Inclusion award of the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023, holding a committed speech in favor of the rights of LGBTQI+ people of whom she has always been a fervent ally:
“Thank you to the Camera della Moda for this important recognition. It means a lot to me. Here in Italy it has never been so important for us to support the voices of minorities. Our government is trying to take away people’s right to live how they want by limiting our freedoms. The freedom to walk down the street with your head held high and without fear, whatever your identity. The freedom to start a family and live as you wish. The freedom to love who you want. We must all fight for freedom.
In an era in which transgender people still suffer terrible violence, in an era in which the children of same-sex couples are not considered children, at a time when minority voices are being attacked by new laws. Now we still have a lot to do. »
In fact, since Giorgia Meloni came to power, repressive laws against LGBTQI+ people have multiplied, starting from lesbian women who dare to have a child, up to people who have (had) resorted to the GPA. Donatella Versace continued with more intimate, but equally political anecdotes:
“I was 11 years old when my brother Gianni [Versace, le fondateur de la maison du même nom, dont Donatella a repris la direction artistique suite à son assassinat en 1997, ndlr] he told me he was gay. For me, she hasn’t changed anything. I loved him and I didn’t care who he loved. His love and encouragement made me who I am.
Marco [Mengoni] he said I was a queer icon – I’m very proud of that. I fight every day for freedom, equity and inclusion. I built my chosen family with unconditional love. My friends and team are not defined by race, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation, but by creativity, openness, joy, and kindness. Values that matter. If we were all more welcoming and understanding of each other, what a wonderful world it would be. Thank you all. »
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
