Queer human rights remain a hot potato in most countries, including countries we’d expect to know better. Italy, for example, has a mixed record in this area. Same sex sexual activity has been legal in Italy since 1890, and Italy was one of the very few European nations to have an equal age for homosexual and heterosexual sex acts before the twentieth century. Surprisingly, the only European nation to have an equal age of consent longer than Italy is Turkey, which equalised the age of consent in 1858.
Italy, however, still does not offer same sex marriage (although civil partnerships are available) and queer parents do not have the same rights as heterosexual parents regarding joint adoption or IVF treatment. If you are a single queer person then the adoption process is very difficult, and rare, as heterosexual married couples are given priority at all costs over all single or unmarried people, let alone queer folk.
Born For You (Nata Per Te), a brilliant drama directed by Fabio Mollo tells the true story of Luca Trapanese, a single gay man from Naples, and his 2017 adoption of Alba, the first adoption in Italy by a single person.
Luca (Pierluigi Gigante) is a social worker, working in support for people with Down’s Syndrome. having previously been a trainee priest. He’s in a long-term relationship with his boyfriend Lorenzo (Alessandro Piavani). Luca really wants to have children but Lorenzo is less keen and the handsome couple eventually breaks up over this. Undeterred, Luca pursues his quest for parenthood and makes enquiries about the adoption of Alba, a baby with Down’s Syndrome who was abandoned by her mother at birth in a local hospital. New-born babies are usually very easy to adopt, but Alba’s Down’s Syndrome results in 27 couples rejecting her for adoption. With his experience in the community, and commitment to be a parent, Luca would be the perfect person to adopt Alba, but the local Children’s court wants a heterosexual couple to adopt Alba, much to Luca and his passionate lawyer’s (Teresa Saponangelo) frustration. Luca eventually gets temporary custody of Alba, but could lose her at any time of the court finds a heterosexual couple willing to adopt her. His permanent adoption of her seems a long way off.
As first I thought I’d prefer to see a documentary rather than a dramatisation of Luca’s story, but Mollo has created such a warm, heartfelt, stylish film, that I doubt a documentary would improve on this. Born For You is equally a love story as it is a political call to action. The excellent main cast are supported by other gems including Iaia Forte who plays Luca’s glamorous mother and Barbara Bobulova who plays the traditionalist head of the Children’s court. The cast of extras with Down’s Syndrome add joy to the mix. Beautiful cinematography and an atmospheric soundtrack take us deep into the heart of Neapolitan life. A concurrent sub-plot featuring a teenage Luca and his relationship with his best friend complements the main story. The, often tough, reality of single parenthood with a baby is also well portrayed. We are left loving both Luca and Alba, and wanting to share their lives with them. Luckily the hero Luca lets us do that with @trapluca, his generous Instagram account – 700,000 followers and counting. A great film – touching, compelling viewing.
Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
