Meir Brauner no longer feels he can live openly as both Jewish and gay in Italy.
The deputy director of Keshet Italia, a Jewish LGBTQ organization, recently moved back to Israel from Rome, saying the atmosphere for Jews in Italy has become increasingly hostile since the October 7 attack and the war in Gaza.
“When I sold my apartment in Rome this year, I realized I could no longer see myself there,” Brauner said. “Most of my friends now are Jewish. Many of my non-Jewish friends barely speak to me anymore, but post against Israel.”
For Brauner, the pressure is felt most sharply inside progressive spaces where he once expected solidarity. He said Jewish LGBTQ activists in Italy are increasingly treated as suspect unless they publicly adopt anti-Israel positions.
“If you are not aligned with the anti-Zionist position, you are not allowed to speak,” he said.
Brauner said that reality was evident in the recent dispute surrounding Rome Pride, where Keshet Italia was barred after refusing to sign a statement accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The group had already reported the ban, but Brauner said the episode was only one example of a wider climate.
He said last year’s Pride march also included hostile confrontations.
“People screamed at us that they don’t believe October 7 happened and threatened us with death,” he said.
Brauner said he feels Italian Jews are politically isolated, including in circles that describe themselves as liberal or inclusive.
“The far right and far left were always against Israel, but now the regular left is against us too,” he said.
He said he still wears a Star of David necklace in Italy, but hides it on public transportation. He avoids speaking Hebrew in public and worries people may see Hebrew on his phone.
“For us, security at synagogues has become normal,” he said. “It should not be normal, but we got used to it.”