Bangaly: “I discovered my rights as a migrant and homosexual”

To date, the project has about forty migrant activists, engaged in militancy, assistance and training activities in reception centers for transform the sense of shame and isolation into awareness of one’s rights and democratic conscience.

Among these there is, in fact, Bangaly who has learned not to feel inferior and to no longer fear judgment: «Here I discovered my rights, I found a family to trust, almost immediately I realized I was in the right place. Among other things, right in the AfricArcigay group, I met Ousmane, my current boyfriend ».

Galeotto was the impact with the language, as Giulia Bodo points out, «when Bangaly arrived, he was so frightened that he did not speak to anyone, moreover he said a few words in Italian. He found himself a Francophone among many volunteers, mainly Nigerians, who speak English. But to help him, from the first day, was Ousmane, our activist from Guinea, also a French-speaking person ». “We understood each other immediately, in every sense”, says Bangaly, happy to have been able to live his relationship in the open for about two and a half years, supported and respected by the community.

An added value, according to Bodo, active since childhood in defense of minorities, is having managed to develop an integration project in a territory like that of Vercelli, with a strong Northern League imprint. “We do not have the support of the institutions, we do not receive funding other than some donations, so much so that our headquarters are at my home, but we are proud to be a recognized reality throughout Piedmont, and beyond. Our group is constantly growing, it proves to be more and more profitable to activate a path of self-acceptance and self-determination in migrants who exchange fears and experiences, support and encourage each other “continues the young graduate in political science and relations international, arrived in the reception centers as an Italian teacher and then, unexpectedly, became the promoter of this project, flanked by many tireless volunteers. Among which the young Ivorian stands out, integrated to the point of becoming one of the reference figures: he actively participates in reception and training activities, acts as an interpreter for newcomers and, recently, was elected a member of the board of directors of the Arcigay of Vercelli.

“It is a joy for us to be architects of change for these young people with a past of persecution, who, thanks to a network of mutual help, are able to reclaim their dreams and build their future in the land that welcomed them” concludes the young woman activist, taking the example of Bangaly who, while waiting for him refugee status, unfortunately still not obtained due to bureaucratic slowness, he works as a delivery boy and attends an evening school. «I also got my driver’s license», he says, «my dream is to be a truck driver. And, who knows, maybe go and live with Ousmane. Certainly I no longer let myself be intimidated by those who, from time to time, insult me. Indeed, I fight for all the brothers and sisters who have not yet found the courage to feel free “.