Okay, here's what my resource replied:
"Dear [TiredHorse],
I am very sorry about your friend's situation, and unfortunately I don't think it is that uncommon in Italy. If he is underage he should contact the Telefono Azzurro [
https://www.azzurro.it/] immediately; this is the national hotline for children and adolescents facing physical abuse at home and at school. They also have some online resources and chat forums that might be helpful. Unfortunately there is not yet a national hotline or an organisation specifically devoted to the protection of LGBTQ rights, but this group [
http://www.risorselgbti.eu/] seems to be trying to start something like that and I'm sure they would be glad to talk to him if he reached out.
If he is not underage and is facing serious danger at home, then I would actually recommend that he contact the Telefono Rosa [
https://www.telefonorosa.it/] - the national hotline for women facing abuse. "Femminicidio"— you can probably guess what that means—is a huge issue in Italy, and this organisation is at the centre of the fight against it as well as many other important feminist initiatives.
Though your friend is not a woman, this group is a pretty liberal, open-minded lot (my emphasis --TH) who would probably be glad to help. Among the other resources they provide (including legal assistance and psychological support), they have several "safe homes" where victims of abuse can stay.
Where does your friend live? If he is in a city I might be able to find some local resources he could contact. But it sounds more like a small provincial town if even the police have refused to intervene.
Let me know how things go, and if there is anything else I can do to help.
Best,
X****"
I'll let her know you're in Abruzzo. She might have more specific resources for there.
Hang in there,
@letmeseethedeath