Italy: 4 gay men injured in late night homophobic attack
Police in Italy say four gay men were viciously attacked by a gang last weekend.
The attack occurred in a park in Turin shortly after a local gay community event had finished late on Sunday evening.
According to the La Stampa newspaper, four other young men, visibly intoxicated, began insulting the victims, who were then beaten and lashed with a belt in Valentino Park.
Police have called it an isolated incident, unrelated to any homophobic or organised hate movement.
Officials say the injuries suffered by the men will take several weeks to heal.
Italy remains weak when it comes to protecting the rights of its LGBT citizens.
At present, gender identity remains exempt from the country’s anti-discrimination legislation.
Same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are currently not recognised and same-sex couples do not have adoption rights.
