Franco Grillini

He attended the University of Bologna, graduating in 1979 with a degree in education, and subsequently became a psychologist, psychotherapist, and journalist.

From 1991 to 2001, he held continuous membership of the Ministry of Health's National Council for the Fight against AIDS.

Among the legislation Grillini has proposed is a civil union law similar to the French PACS[3] and adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the anti-discrimination article of the Constitution of Italy.

[4][5] On 28 June 1982, Grillini helped found the Circolo Omosessuale Ventotto Giugno in Bologna, the first gay group to receive government funding.

[1] This group would develop into the national association Arcigay, Italy's leading gay organization, founded in 1985.