Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
I am a transfeminist, lesbian, human rights expert, grassroots activist and institutional advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, with a proven track record in working for LGBTQIA+ rights, women’s rights, gender equality, and, consequently, movement building and civil society strengthening. I deliver programme design and implementation support, advocacy, research reports, MEL, trainings, helpdesk services on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in all aspects of policy and programming and, more specifically, on LGBTQ+ workplace equity. By taking an intersectional approach to understanding and challenging the structural barriers that LGBTQIA+ people face to social inclusion, I work with communities, civil society, governments, businesses and other stakeholders to support LGBTQIA+ and women* to access and claim knowledge, resources, rights and services. As a trainer on DE&I (gender equality; anti-discrimination law; LGBTQIA+ community and rights), I have been pushing the conversation on gender-inclusive and LGBTQIA+ workplace equity from the adoption of inclusive policies towards the creation of optimal business cultures in which every LGBTQIA+ individual and woman* can belong and thrive. I bring: - passion and experience in diversity, equity and inclusion policy development, advisory, training; - sound judgement, critical thinking, ability to understand complex policy; - excellent interpersonal skills including an ability to establish and nurture relationships with differentiated stakeholders; - excellent written and verbal communication skills. My work includes: - Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) analysis, strategy development, training and implementation support; - Project management (project design, implementation and/or coordination, reporting) of international, national and local LGBTQIA-focused projects; - Policy advisory on LGBTQIA-related issues and gender equality for institutions and no-profit organisations; - Consultancies and trainings on Diversity Management, DEI&B in the workplace, Diversity Language; - Trainings on gender equality, gender diversity (SOGIESC issues) and LGBTQIA+ rights; - Strategic coaching and team building for profit and no-profit collective bodies; - Research on LGBTQIA+ and gender-related subjects. I am a born "grassroots do-er" who never complains about any task, from the most strategic to the most menial. Pec: [email protected] Italian VAT number (P.IVA): 04151910363
Since June 2025, I have been the Project Manager of “ArciDykes Modena Fostering the Lesbian Networking in Italy”, a locally rooted, lesbian-led and lesbian-focused project promoted by Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard” and funded by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) within the framework of the “Resourcing Lesbian Movements in Europe – 2025” fund. The project aims to strengthen lesbian networks in Italy via community mapping, a two-day Lesbian Forum ("SaffichiaMO!", 8-9/11/2025 Modena), and online thematic meetings, fostering dialogue and producing a shared policy document for advocacy and continued collaboration. Since June 2025, as the PM of the above-mentioned project, I have been responsible for: - the comprehensive organisation of the project; - the development and monitoring of the project schedule; - the ideation, planning, and implementation of project activities; - the coordination and management of the project team; - the management of the project budget, including purchasing and supplies; - the administration of project-related reimbursements; - internal and external project-related communications; - the preparation and management of project-related reporting activities, both internal and external.
Chair of the Women's Steering Committee of ILGA World. It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Women’s Committee to coordinate the work of the Committee which is to: - Represent women’s issues in the ILGA World Executive Board and be a spokesperson for women’s issues for the Executive Board; - Represent and advance women’s inclusiveness at the highest governance body, the Executive Board; - Apply an intersectional lens to ensuring that the needs and advancement of women are protected in ILGA’s policies and processes; - Use the executive authority at Board level to strengthen, advise and support the ILGA World Programme in conjunction with the Executive Director; - Guide, support and input into the preparation and effective delivery of a women’s pre-conference and caucus at the ILGA World conference in collaboration with the Executive Director; - To build partnerships with intersectional feminist movements and external allies; - To represent ILGA World at relevant decision-making events, processes and conferences.
Manager and co-organiser of the All Women’s Pre-Conference (November, 11, 09.00 - 12.30), alongside Laura Piazza (Outright International) and Andrea Ayala (RFSL). ILGA WORLD CONFERENCE 2024, CAPE TOWN MONDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2024 9:00 - 10:30; 11:00 - 12:30 Century City Conference Centre, Hall B THE WOMEN’S STEERING COMMITTEE OF ILGA World in cooperation with Outright International; RFSL is hosting the THE ALL WOMEN’S PRE-CONFERENCE. SESSION 1 09.00 - 10.45 INTRODUCTION Speaker: Angelica Polmonari - Chair of the Women’s Committee of ILGA World PANEL DISCUSSION Moderator: Renae Green - Executive Director of Transwave Jamaica, Co-Chair of ILGA_NAC (North America and Caribbean) Speakers: - Cristina González Hurtado (she/her; Colombia) - Executive Director of Corporación Femm; Representative For Latin America And Caribbean to the Women’s Committee of ILGA World - Ratu Eroni Ledua Dina (oira/kemuni) (Oceania) - Chief Executive of Trans Affirmative Action Guild (FJ); Member of the ILGA Oceania’s Executive Board and Chair of its Transgender Sub-Committee - Tanja von Knorring (she/her; Finland) - Executive Director of Transfemininiit; Vice Chair of LGBTI-federation of Finland - Seta; Board Member of the EL*C - EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (the EL*C) - Susan Gapka (she/her; Canada) - Chair Of The Board Of Directors of Toronto Trans Coalition Project; Representative for North America & Caribbean to the Trans* Committee of ILGA World - Sarah Shika Fleischer (she/her; Ghana) - Executive Director of Courageous Sisters Ghana; Co-Chair of PANAFRICA ILGA. - Matcha Phorn-in (she/her; Thailand) - Executive Director of Sangsan Anakot Yaowachon Foundation; Board Member of APWLD - Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development; Co-President of the International Family Equality Days SESSION 2 11.00 - 12.30 FISHBOWL DISCUSSION Facilitators: Andrea Ayala (RFSL); Laura Piazza (Outright International); Angelica Polmonari (ILGA World)
26 April, 9:30 – 11:00 Parallel session "Are the Kids Alright?!" This interactive workshop opens a collective conversation on lesbian* motherhood. Using the fishbowl format, speakers will spark dialogue on lesbian* families in diverse contexts and the activism behind securing recognition of parental and family rights. From strategic litigation to community organizing, join us—and don’t hesitate to dive in! Speakers: • Tania Irias (she/her) – Lesbian feminist and mother from Nicaragua, now living in Spain as a refugee. Active with Artemisa Migrantes y Refugiadas, she brings insight into the realities of queer migrant families. • Aleksandra Gavrilović (she/her) – Education Program Coordinator at Labris (Serbia) and mother of three. • Sofia Burini (she/her) – Trainee lawyer in Italy, specialized in labor law and legal scholar focusing on LGBTQ+ parenthood. • Xheni Karaj (she/her) – Executive Director of Aleanca LGBT (Albania), advocating for legal recognition of same-sex unions and parenting. Currently engaged in strategic litigation with her partner. • Mariyam (she/her) – Feminist journalist and researcher from Tajikistan, based in Kazakhstan. Her work focuses on Islam and queer women’s experiences, especially in refugee contexts. • Eva Perez (she/her) – Spanish lawyer and lesbian mother, Co-chair of EL*C. She brings perspective from a country with legal protections for LGBTQ+ families. • Aïda Yancy (she/her) – Black feminist lesbian activist and former EL*C advocacy officer. Based in Belgium, she shares her experience as a mother of three and expert on antiracism and advocacy. • Angelica Polmonari (she/her) – Italian transfeminist lesbian, Co-Secretary of EL*C. Active in both the Italian lesbian movement and ELC’s response to discrimination against lesbian mothers in Italy. • Pre-recorded Speech: Laura-Rose Thorogood (she/her) – Lesbian mother of four, LGBT+, maternity and fertility activist, and CEO & Founder of the global organization LGBT Mummies.
Project manager (project implementation, coordination, reporting) of the EU-funded international project "With Digitalisation Versus Corruption (digitalVScorrupt)" project. Internal ad external project trainer on SOGIESC issues and LGBTQIA+ rights. External project speaker on SOGIESC issues and LGBTQIA+ rights. The project, focusing on corruption and the use of digital tools for transparency and accountability, aims to: -promote cross-sectoral cooperation to facilitate informal learning; -strengthen organisational capacity to use ICT to detect corruption and promote EU values. In addition, the project seeks to establish a dialogue with policy makers on the dangers of corruption, thus safeguarding the stability and security of the European Union. The project partnership is designed to reflect inclusiveness and diversity and incluses Arcigay, representing LGBTQIA+ communities, to ensure that the consortium represents a broad spectrum of society. The planned activities, which are expected to involve 900 individuals from 13 countries, include: -meetings; -trainings; -cross-border activities; -youth exchanges; -conferences. Project "With Digitalisation Versus Corruption (digitalVScorrupt)", under the A 6: Erasmus + Program: Sport. Youth, and EU Aid Volunteers, Key Action 2: Capacity Building in the field of youths.
-The first-ever female President (Legal representative and Executive Co-Director) of Arcigay Modena "Matthew Shepard"; -National activist, trainer and Project Manager of Arcigay Rete Donne Transfemminista; -International representative of Arcigay Rete Donne Transfemminista
‘R-EXISTING LESBIANS ON THE MOVE’ (ITA) 6 March 2025, 9pm, online (Google Meet). Guests: Ilaria Todde, Dykerector for Advocacy and Research of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C); Michela Calabrò, the head of Arcigay Rete Donne Transfemminista and the Executive Board Member of Arcigay in charge of Gender Issues; Natascia Maesi, President of Arcigay. Facilitators: Angelica Polmonari, President of Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard,” activist of Arcigay Rete Donne Transfemminista, Co-Secretary of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), Chair of the Women's Committee of ILGA World; Elisa Fraulini, Vice-President of Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard” and activist of Arcigay Rete Donne Transfemminista.