Porpora Marcasciano (San Bartolomeo in Galdo, 15 September 1957) is an Italian activist, sociologist, and writer, known for her militantism for LGBT+ and transgender rights and internationally recognized books, including AntoloGaia.

One day, while returning home from classes at La Sapienza, she was arrested at Piazza dei Cinquecento in Roma Termini Station for wearing such attire.

[5] Porpora Marcasciano became an historical trans activist and has been an important figure in the Italian movement from its beginnings within the collectives of the 1970s to the present day.

[7] She traces her activism back to 1975, when, following the murder of Pier Paolo Pasolini, the members of the political collective she belonged to asked her to publicly share her story during a school assembly.

movement due to its political alignment with the Radical Party, Porpora, together with Marco Sanna and Enzo Ienna, founded the NARCISO collective (an acronym for Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari Comunisti Internazionali Sovversivi Omosessuali).

[11] This work recounts the birth of the first Italian pride, the homosexual camps, the arrival of AIDS, and the struggles that led to Law 164 of 1982 on gender transition.

The year 1983 marks the end of the story because it coincides with the death of Mario Mieli, whom she personally knew, and the arrival of AIDS in the Italian media.

[19] Marcasciano ran for office on the Civic Coalition - Courageous Ecologist Solidarity list in the municipal elections held on October 3–4, 2021, in Bologna.

Some of her notable achievements include: Marcasciano's activism, spanning from the 1970s to the present, has been pivotal in shaping Italy's legal and social landscape for transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals, making her a central figure in the country's human rights movement.