Rome Gays Demand Marriage Rights - 365Gay.com

Rome Gays Demand Marriage Rights
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: July 10, 2005 4:00 pm ET




(Rome) More than 50,000 people lined the streets of Rome's historic city center for this weekend's gay Pride celebration.

Marchers called for equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, many of them carrying signs praising Spain for its decision to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Although Italy provides some rights to gay couples the provisions are considered sparse by European standards and do not include adoption.

Italy's right of center government has committed itself to maintaining the status quo and has been critical of Spain's decision. On June 30, Spain's parliament passed legislation allowing gays to marry (story) over protests from the Vatican. Holland and Belgium also allow gays to marry. Most other European Union nations have varying forms of civil unions and domestic partner registries.

Several men in cassocks and women in nun's habits marched in the parade but it was not clear if they were clergy or people dressed up as Roman Catholic priests and nuns.

One float was dedicated to same-sex marriage and featured dancing drag queens in wedding dresses.

Not everyone on the sidelines was supportive, however, the night before signs were posted along the parade route that read "Peverse!" and "No Thanks!".

Midway through the parade the music blaring from sound trucks became silent and the march ground to a halt for a moment of silence dedicated to those who died in last week's terrorist attack in London.

Rome officials had asked Pride organizers to call off the parade as a sign of respect over the terrorist attacks, but Arcigay, Italy's leading LGBT civil rights group decided to go ahead with the parade but to include a memorial for the victims of the bombings.

"We are here for freedom and against terrorism. Terrorism is the son of intolerance and discrimination," said Arcigay spokesperson Fabrizio Marrazzo of gay rights group.

Many of the marchers wore black armbands as a sign of mourning.


Italy gay march falls silent to honour UK victims