There are still a few places available to take part in Giubilaic, the initiative promoted by UAAR Florence and UAAR Lucca, with the patronage of the Municipality of Florence, aimed at giving space and voice back to fundamental issues that are still too rarely discussed from a secular perspective: freedom of choice, civil rights, self-determination, public education, and secularism in institutions.
Giubilaic will take place in Florence on September 20 and 21, 2025, and the date is no coincidence. UAAR also intends to celebrate the Twentieth of September in a country that seems to have forgotten its secular roots. In Italy, freely deciding about one’s own body, education, parenthood, or end-of-life choices is still an obstacle course. This festival aims to be an open, in-depth, and necessary moment of discussion, fostering active citizenship and awareness of both one’s own rights and those of others.
The event will be held at Impact Hub Firenze Rifredi and features a two-day program of meetings, debates, testimonies, and contributions from experts, activists, and professionals. Topics will include the hidden costs—economic, environmental, and political—of the Jubilee, “conversion therapies” for sexual orientation, the right to choose how and when to die, conscientious objection in public healthcare, and the difficult access to reproductive rights in Italy.
There will also be space for educational issues, from the presence of Catholic religion in public schools to the lack of comprehensive sex and emotional education, as well as the marginalization of secular alternatives. Among the most powerful moments of the festival will be the testimony of Mubarak Bala, Nigerian human rights activist and president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for publicly criticizing religion.
To close the first day of Giubilaico, at 7:45 p.m. on September 20, the Lautsi Award—now in its second edition—will be presented by Massimo Albertin and Roberto Grendene. The award is dedicated to the memory of Soile Lautsi, a key figure in the courageous legal battle for the secular nature of schools against the imposition of the crucifix, who passed away in 2023. This year, the Lautsi Award will be given to gynecologist Elisabetta Canitano.
“The Lautsi Award,” explains Roberto Grendene, secretary of UAAR, “is intended as a public expression of gratitude and esteem by UAAR for individuals who stand out for their secular merits. This year, the award is fully deserved by gynecologist Elisabetta Canitano for her commitment to defending and promoting sexual and reproductive self-determination, and for her courageous opposition to religious interference in healthcare structures and procedures in our country.”
Giubilaic also stands out for its participatory spirit: it is free, accessible, and made possible thanks to the support of those who believe in a more secular, fairer, and freer Italy. Reservations to attend the events are already open on Eventbrite.
For those who wish to support the initiative, it is possible to contribute through the crowdfunding campaign active on Eppela: the funds raised will help cover logistics, communication, video documentation, and hospitality costs for guests. Contributors will receive no indulgences, but rather books, UAAR gadgets, experiences, and—above all—the satisfaction of having taken part in a valuable and necessary event.
Press release
Impact Hub – Via Panciatichi 16, Florence
Free admission
Program and reservations at firenze.uaar.it
