ITALY – Gay rights campaigners across Europe are fuming after Italy’s parliament rejected a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from discrimination. They are calling for the European Union to step in and help as they fear a rise in homophobic violence.
The Chamber of Deputies voted 293 votes to 250 not to approve the legislation. Pink News reported that Italy already bans discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, ethnicity and nationality, but campaigners say rising numbers of homophobic and transphobic attacks means LGBT people need more protection.
Head of gay rights association Arcigay, Paolo Patane, told AFP, “This parliament has betrayed justice and civility and has decided to support the violent. The European Union should help us face this extremely dangerous rise in homophobia, xenophobia and racism that the Italian parliament has decided to legitimize.”
Nicola Duckworth of Amnesty International said, “In addition to passing the right laws, authorities and politicians should set the example. They should promote equality and non-discrimination and refrain from and condemn derogatory and discriminatory remarks that foster a climate of intolerance.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is notorious for opposing gay rights and last year was on record as saying, “It’s better to be passionate about beautiful women than to be gay.”
Italy does not allow same-sex marriage and same-sex couples living in Italy have no shared rights to property, social security and inheritance.
