Abstract
This paper analyzes the "red light district" of Palermo, understood as an urban conflict that has become a political issue. Neighbors, travestis, government officials, religious leaders and business owners mobilized about travesti's offer of sex services on the streets of the neighborhood. These events generated a political debate about the city project promoted by urban public policy, and the subject deserving to live in the city. This paper analyzes social inequality within the public space. The different and conflicting moral repertories of individuals and policy stakeholders questioned how tolerable could be the presence of illegitimate practices and identities; and how public policies, management and spatial distance and proximity between different surroundings became a vital element to solve an urban and moral conflict.
travestis; urban conflict; public space; red light district
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