LOGICAL: Miss Italy Bans Homosexuals From Competition: ‘Must Be A Woman From Birth’

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The Miss Italy beauty pageant has reaffirmed its stance on not allowing transgender women to compete. The decision comes in the wake of the recent crowning of the first transgender woman, Rikkie Valerie Kollé, in the Miss Netherlands contest.

Patrizia Mirigliani, the official patron of Miss Italy, stated in an interview with Radio Cusano that contestants “must be a woman from birth.” She added, “Lately, beauty contests have been trying to make the news by also using strategies that I think are a bit absurd.”

Mirigliani further explained that the competition’s rules have always specified that one must be a woman from birth, anticipating that beauty could undergo modifications, or that women could undergo modifications, or that men could become women.

This stance has drawn attention and criticism, particularly given the increasing acceptance of transgender rights in many Western nations. A poll conducted by the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute in 2016 found that a majority in 21 out of 23 countries, including Italy, “support policies banning discrimination against transgender people.”

Italy ranked 57 on a scale gauging the average level of support for transgender rights among different countries, with Spain ranking the highest at 74 and Russia the lowest at 41.

In 2015, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Italy violated human rights by not providing legal recognition for same-sex partnerships. Since then, Italy has allowed same-sex civil unions. As of 2021, trans individuals still need to go through medical procedures and receive a diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” to legally change their gender.

The decision by Miss Italy contrasts with the recent developments in the Miss Universe contest, which changed its rules in 2012 to allow transgender women to compete. The 2018 Miss Universe pageant saw the first transgender woman to compete, Angela Ponce, who previously won the Miss Spain contest.

Mirigliani’s comments come just a few weeks after the Miss Netherlands contest crowned its first transgender woman winner, Rikkie Valerie Kollé. Following her victory, Kollé will go on to represent her country in the 2023 Miss Universe contest. In an Instagram post, Kollé expressed her joy and pride, stating, “Yes I am a trans woman and I would like to share my story, but I am also Rikkie and that is what counts for me. I did this on my own strength and enjoyed every moment.”