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CHANGING ATTITUDE
Celebrating Ten Years
INTERNATIONAL SECULAR NEWS
Italian Parliament rejects anti homophobia bill
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
by Colin Coward |
The Italian Parliament’s justification for throwing out the bill – which would have raised penalties against acts of violence motivated by homophobia – was that it would give “unequal protection” to gays compared to other groups, violating the principle of equality.
A number of MPs said that the very expression “sexual orientation” is in itself “ambiguous”, as it could include things like paedophilia, zoophilia, necrophilia, incest and so on. This was written into the legal document that the majority of the parliament then approved.
Arcigay say this is insulting for” the dignity not only of Italians, but also for the dignity of every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual person living anywhere in Europe and in the world. It effectively touches each and every one of us living in the EU, because we are all part of the same Union, and there are basic principles of equality and respect that all of our governments are bound to respect.”
Following the bill rejection, the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the Italian Parliament’s stance is a “step backward for human rights in Italy”.
Arcigay is outraged and appalled at the wave of homophobia they are seeing grow every day, and at the increasing number of hate crimes being committed against people because of their sexual orientation, both in Italy and abroad. The recent cases in Italy as in the rest of Europe are testimony to this awful spread in violence. It shows how barbaric, violent and homophobic our so-called “Western civilisation” is becoming.
They ask for support in their battle for equality, by helping organise and holding a protest/demonstration in front of Italian embassies as soon as possible, involving as many people as possible to have our voice clearly heard. Helping Arcigay protect LGBT rights in Italy today also means protecting your own rights to be yourselves, to live and to exist tomorrow in every part of the world.
Information last updated on 20 October 2009
