“Sense of Belonging” of LGBT Population: The Case study of Turin

Since the Turin PRG 1995, the city has undergone a significant developmental shift, transitioning from a traditional industrial city to a creative and inclusive city. This transformation has been inherent in the following strategic planning, with deeper emphasis on social inclusion and public services for minority and ethnic groups. Turin, recognized as one of the most LGBT friendly cities in Italy, has a rich history and culture responding to the struggle for LGBT equal rights. The creation of LGBT spaces in Turin started in 1970s, marked by the founding of FUORI! (Fronte Unitario Omosessuale Rivoluzionario Italiano). However, unlike other cities, LGBT individuals in Turin have not established dedicated gay neighborhoods or blocks. Instead, they have cultivated a network of LGBT spaces throughout the city, including clubs/discos, cultural facilities, and restaurants, fostering social networks through these venues. This thesis explores the spatial transformation of LGBT urban spaces in Turin from the 1970s onward. Additionally, it examines the sense of belonging among the LGBT people in Turin, identifying key factors, such as sense of safety within urban environment, the spatial presentation and preservation of LGBT culture, that foster a sense of belonging for LGBT population within the urban environment. To address these research objectives, this study employs multiple qualitative approaches. These include interviews with 12 individual interviewees, with representatives from three LGBT associations and with the LGBT service office in Turin, archival research and analysis of written materials on Turin’s LGBT urban spaces, and spatial mapping using data from interviews and historical records. The findings of this research reveal that the transformation of LGBT urban spaces in Turin can be divided into four distinct periods. Beginning in the 1970s, these spaces transitioned from underground venues to more open and visible locations. Between the 1982 and 2000s, LGBT urban spaces expanded across Turin, fostering a vibrant community culture and supporting political advocacy for equal rights. Following 2000, the city experienced gentrification pressures, which posed challenges to LGBT urban spaces. However, during this time, the municipal government increasingly recognized the need of LGBT groups, in terms of space use and equal rights. After 2010, various social actors collaborated to construct LGBT-friendly urban spaces in Turin. Moreover, this study highlights critical factors influencing the sense of belonging among LGBT individuals in urban settings. These include feelings of safety in public spaces and the preservation and representation of their collective history and culture. The research concludes that LGBT urban spaces as the third space, it contains the social relationships and the LGBT symbolism meanings. Therefore the transformation of LGBT urban spaces in Turin is closely linked to the evolving relationship between the LGBT community and mainstream society, particularly its acceptance. To cultivate and strengthen this sense of belonging, society should prioritize improvements to the urban environment, meanwhile preserving the history and collective culture of the LGBT community.