Italian equal opportunities minister rejects 'gay pride' march

Reuters
International Herald Tribune

ROME: Italy's new minister for equal opportunities has angered rights groups by refusing to back a "gay pride" march because, she said, gays no longer suffer discrimination in Italy.

Carfagna said in comments published Monday that she would not back the June gay pride event in Bologna because "gay prides are pointless."

"Homosexuality is no longer a problem, at least not the way the organizers of these demonstrations would have us believe," Carfagna said. "Gay pride's only aim is official recognition for homosexual couples, on the same level with marriage. I cannot agree to that."

The head of Arcigay, Aurelio Mancuso, said Carfagna lived in "a fairy-tale land." He said 14 gays or lesbians had been murdered in Italy in the past two years, 50 had suffered serious attacks and thousands had been discriminated against.

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