ITALY: GAY GROUPS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST ATTEMPTS BY VATICAN AND ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO BLOCK OR RESCHEDULE JULY'S GAY PRIDE PARADE IN ROME

Record ID: 278254

  • Title: ITALY: GAY GROUPS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST ATTEMPTS BY VATICAN AND ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO BLOCK OR RESCHEDULE JULY'S GAY PRIDE PARADE IN ROME
  • Date: 1st June 2000
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (JUNE 1, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WS/SV: GAY PRIDE BANNER AND GAY GROUPS PROTESTING OUTSIDE THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT AFTER PRIME MINISTER GIULIANO AMATO ANNOUNCED PARADE INCONVENIENT DURING HOLY YEAR (2 SHOTS) 0.11 2. SV: PROTESTERS CHANTING "THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES WORLD PRIDE" AND WEARING SIGNS SAYING (ITALIAN), "I PAY TAXES
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME AND VATICAN CITY, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA9HOG4BB514OXFUIWAKUG728E0
  • Story Text: Attempts by the Vatican and Italian government to
    block or reschedule a Gay Pride parade scheduled for July 8 in
    Rome have caused an uproar.

    Critics have called the parade inappropriate during the
    Holy year, while supporters say basic human rights are at
    stake.

    Rome has drawn widespread indignation for wavering
    over the July 1-9 event.

    On Wednesday (May 31) Prime Minister Giuliano Amato ruled
    to withhold the official stamp of approval from the entire Gay
    Pride event, despite the request of the Minister for Equal
    Opportunity, Katia Bellillo, to sustain some activities.

    The Vatican has remained silent on the issue as the
    controversy has mounted, while the leader of Italy's Jewish
    community has voiced the community's support in terms of the
    rights of minority groups to express themselves.

    The general public has been split on the issue.

    In February, Rome's Mayor, Francesco Rutelli, failed to
    convince organizers to shift the dates of the festival, which
    coincide with several of the Church's Holy Year events.

    July 9 is a jubilee day for prison inmates and the Pope
    will visit Rome's Rebibbia jail.

    A conference of Catholic doctors is due from July 3-6 and
    they meet the Pope on July 7, and a large number of
    missionaries are also expected in the city because of
    the opening of a major months-long exhibition in June.

    The Vatican, which earlier said it believes the Gay Pride
    event is inopportune in a Holy Year, tolerates homosexuals but
    regards homosexual sex as a sin.

    The main event of the Gay Pride festival, which is
    expected to draw thousands, is a parade through the streets of
    Rome on July 8, with a concert and party later.

    On Tuesday, Rome's mayor met a Gay Pride delegation and
    agreed to stand by its pledge to donate 300 million lire
    (145,600 USD) to the festival.But Rutelli said it would
    choose which events the money could go to and organisers could
    no longer use the Rome city logo.

    The mayor is scheduled to release the final program for
    the controversial Gay Pride festival on Friday.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register