Italy: Gay rights group calls on government to break ‘silence’ over Russian anti-gay law
An Italian gay rights group on Monday called on the Italian Government to break its “silence”, on the issue of anti-gay laws introduced in June.
The group, Arcigay, on Monday called on the government to take action over the laws. The head of Arcigay Flavio Romani, said gay rights groups in the country would take place in the global Russia4Love campaign, and a global kiss-in, in Bologna, Naples and Milan., starting on Tuesday.
President Vladimir Putin signed the law in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward minors, a move that has been criticised as part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community. Other laws banning the adoption of Russian children by foreign same-sex couples, and one which enables organisations receiving funding from abroad to be fined as “foreign agents”, were also passed.
“Despite the numerous stances taken on this issue all over the world, Italy’s institutional representatives stand by in silence and do not grasp the scope of this dangerous slide towards barbarism,” said Romani.
At the weekend, over 2,000 turned out to rally in the German capital Berlin against the law. The weekend prior, Over 10,000 turned up to protest in Copenhagen, over five-times the numbers expected.
British actor, author and comedian and Stephen Fry wrote to David Cameron and begged him to intervene in the situation in Russia. Mr Fry said that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews. He cannot be allowed to get away with it.” Mr Cameron replied on Twitter also voicing his concern.
Out4Russia, launched last week and allows users to lobby G20 governments into action against the Russian law.
