Hello, websurfers, and may I wish you a very happy Gay Friday!
The gay news of the moment that I find most interesting is that Italy, presently one of Europe's least gay-friendly countries, could be getting a gay Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the head of government and most powerful politician in Italy (while having less power than the British and Scandanavian PMs).
Italy's police force are notorious for anti-gay discrimination. Gay couples have been arrested in Rome for kissing outisde. The Itallian Ministry of Transport have revoked men's licenses over "sexual identity distubances". The manager of Italy's biggest football club, Juventus, has stated that gay men have no place in football.
So while it's obviously bad idea for anyone to vote for Nichi Vendola just because he's gay, his victory wuold be a huge step forward for gay rights in the west, helping to eliminate homophobia in one of the places where it is most prominent.
Vendola was initially a poet, who rose to become the unlikely governer of the deeply Catholic southern region of Apulia. He is presently the leader of the socialist party Left Ecology Freedom, and has the support of the centre-left Democratic Party. He is also a leading member of Arcigay, one of the more prominent Itallian gay rights groups.
Is it just me, or could he make a really good It Gets Better video?
Also in Gaynewsania, a man from Cardiff has been arrested for sexually assulting a lesbian, Elton has confused people as to whether or not he supports gay marriage, and an admittedly limited survey has found that LGBT people care more about the environment. Oh, and I found out that the co-founder of Facebook is gay. Which is nice. More gay role models for everyone!
Enjoy the rest of your Friday, whether it be a gay one or not.
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