Tag: italy

Former Vatican guard: I was regularly asked for gay sex by priests

A former Swiss guard claims cardinals, priests and bishops asked him for sex at least 20 times during his time serving the Vatican One of the Pope’s former personal bodyguards has claimed he received several sexual advances from priests while serving at the Vatican. He claims he received 20 to 25 explicit sexual advances from… Read more »

Backlash from Italy’s LGBT groups as Parliament votes on ‘useless’ gay hate ban

Italian LGBT groups are unsatisfied with a proposed anti-homophobia bill that passed in the lower Chamber of Deputies last night, arguing the bill’s freedom of speech protections still allow discriminatory transgressions Italy’s LGBT groups are saying the new ban on homophobia is ‘hypocritical’. LGBT rights and ally groups criticized the proposed legislation, which intends to… Read more »

Sicily’s first openly gay governor wins support with anti-mafia crusade

Palermo, Italy — Of the last two men to sit in Sicily’s palatial governor’s office, one is up on criminal charges and the other is doing hard time. Enter their successor, Rosario Crocetta — the unlikeliest politician ever to govern Cosa Nostra country. Back when he was mayor of a coastal town plagued by mob… Read more »

Sardinians march for gay rights in beach pride

An estimated 10,000 people marched on the beach of Cagliari, Sardinia, to shout, sing and fight for LGBT rights in an anti-gay region of Italy At least 10,000 people gathered on Cagliari’s beach to fight for LGBT rights in Sardinia, Italy. Photo by Daniele Guido Gessa At least 10,000 people marched for gay pride in… Read more »

Italy: Politicians call for civil unions, anti-gay hate laws

After a letter from a suicidal gay teen went viral in Italy, center-right politicians are now calling on government to back gay rights Italy’s center-right politicians are calling for equal rights for gay people, saying they are in favor of same-sex unions and anti-homophobia laws. Sandro Bondi, the former Culture Minister, has responded to a… Read more »

Italy: Culture committee chairman proposes bill on gay civil unions

A centre-right Italian politician proposes to introduce a bill this week that would recognise the civil rights of gay couples in same-sex relationships. Giancarlo Galan is confident that he will receive support from colleagues within ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right People of Freedom (PdL) party. “In the PdL, there are many who think like me…Then there… Read more »

Same-Sex Couple Say, ‘I Do,’ as Italy Sticks to ‘I Don’t’

Rome — The nuptials were traditional in almost every sense. The music was romantic. Teary vows were exchanged, along with shimmering rings, and a passionate first kiss was greeted with boisterous cheers, and more tears, by both families. But from a legal point of view, the wedding last week of Massimiliano Benedetto and Giuseppe Ilaria… Read more »

Italy grants gay partners rights but only for politicians

Deputies in the lower house of parliament given health benefits for gay partners. But other Italians are angry they are getting rights normal same-sex couples don’t yet enjoy The Italian Camera dei Deputati (the lower chamber of the Parliament) has approved a new rule which extends its politician’s health benefits to their gay partners. Now… Read more »

History made in Italy as Milan recognizes UK civil partnership

Cristian and Federico signed their civil union in London in 2010. Now they can apply for local benefits and local welfare A local court in Milan has recognized a British civil partnership – the first time Italy has legally recognized a gay union from abroad. Now the civil union between Cristian, a biologist, and Federico,… Read more »

It is easy to be cynical and exaggerate the extent of abuse by clergy against children

Westhampton, MA – Quoted here are excerpts from the Associated Press of September 14, 2009 and published by the New York Times. It is easy to be cynical and exaggerate the extent of abuse by clergy against children but that serves no purpose other than creating more abuse, in this case against innocent clergy who… Read more »

Vatican: Topless women demonstrate for equal marriage rights during Pope’s weekly prayer

A Ukrainian feminist group have demonstrated topless at St Peter’s Square for gay rights, as Pope Benedict XVI gave his weekly prayer. Four women from Ukrainian feminist group, Femen, stripped off to display the words “Shut up!”, on their fronts, and “in gay we trust” on their backs. The activists also shouted “Homophobic shut up!”,… Read more »

Gays and lesbians in Italy worry about their future

Fear life as senior more difficult for gays than heterosexuals Rome(ANSA) – Homosexuals in Italy fear their future will be more difficult than that of heterosexuals, according to a survey released Wednesday. Fully 55% of gays and lesbians surveyed say they are concerned about their future in Italy, and 52% said that being homosexual and… Read more »

Italian boy commits suicide after Facebook and school gay hate

15-year-old boy loved to wear pink trousers and pink jumpers, but was derided on Facebook and at his high school A 15-year-old boy has committed suicide after having been bullied on social networks and at school in Rome, Italy. ‘AS’, a student from the Cavour high school, in Rome’s city center, loved to wear pink… Read more »

Italian gay man given paid leave for same-sex marriage

Tuscan company Publiacqua ignores law to give employee two-weeks off to marry his husband An Italian gay man has obtained two weeks leave from his company to marry his husband in Brazil. The news is making headlines in Italy, a country that does not recognize same-sex unions, partnerships or marriages. Gioacchino Di Gioia from Prato,… Read more »

Vatican vows to fight gay marriage after gains in U.S., Europe

Vatican City (Reuters) – The Vatican, reacting to strong gains for gay marriage in the United States and Europe, on Saturday pledged never to stop fighting attempts to “erase” the privileged role of heterosexual marriage, which it called it “an achievement of civilization”. For the second consecutive day, Vatican media weighed in with forceful editorials… Read more »