Lina Pallotta and Porpora Marcasciano's 'Porpora' Chronicles Italian Trans Movement

The book 'Porpora', published by Nero in 2023, combines photography and writing to explore the visibility and representation of the trans experience in Italy. It features a selection of photographs by Lina Pallotta, an Italian photographer and teacher, taken since 1990, along with four textual contributions by Porpora Marcasciano, an activist in the Italian trans movement, Kae Tempest, Raffaella Perna, and Allen Frame. The final section, 'Archivi', includes documents and materials from Italian LGBTQIA+ associations. Pallotta's black-and-white, blurred images, shot with long exposure, capture Porpora with empathy, avoiding clichés. The book traces the history of the Italian trans movement, highlighting discrimination, such as fines issued by the 'Buoncostume' police to trans individuals, and the fight against being labeled mentally ill. It notes that the World Health Organization removed gender dysphoria from its list of mental disorders, recognizing trans people as rights holders. The volume aims to dismantle prejudices and underscores the power of collective unity. Giada Fanelli authored the article.