Gay Couple arrested in Rome for Kissing
-
Gay Couple Arrested For Kissing At Rome's Coliseum
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: July 28, 2007 - 9:00 am ET
(Rome) Two gay men have been charged with "lewd conduct" for kissing in front of the Coliseum in Rome.
The pair were rushed into a police car and taken to a police station where they were held for several hours. Eventually they were issued a summons to appear in court and released.
If convicted the pair could be sentenced up to two years in prison.
The incident has sparked a public outcry in Italy.
Italian LGBT civil rights group Arcigay called it an outrage and accused the police of homophobia.
Police deny the accusation, but were unable to provide evidence that any opposite-sex couple had ever been arrested for a similar kiss at the famed tourist spot.
Italy's Health Minister Livia Turco called the arrests a national embarrassment.
Vladimir Luxuria, a Communist politician and Italy's first transsexual lawmaker said she would raise the issue in Parliament.
"It's worrying that a gesture of affection is considered a crime," she told La Repubblica daily. "It's absurd that two young people who love each other should spend the night in a police station without having done anything obscene."
Both Arcigay and Turco have demanded the charges be dropped and that police issue an apology to the two men, aged 28 and 27.
Meanwhile, Arcigay has called for a "national gay kiss-in" at the Coliseum on August 2
-
2 years in prison for same sex kissing? WTF?!
I'm staying away from Italy.
-
A Communist is pushing for more civil liberties? Don't make me laugh!
-
A Communist is pushing for more civil liberties? Don't make me laugh!
Don't think that communism is horrible and evil. There's worst.
Kissing in public - 2 years in jail… Amazing.
Raping children, murders, drugs, etc come out in less time...
-
I am now officially ashamed to be Italian!
Though lets not ruin it for everyone!
Bologna is a much more Gay friendly city! 
I should know! (never been arrested for kissing in public….. as of yet at least! )
-
That's a bunch of bull, straight couples can kiss in public!
If you can't call that a case of two policemen being Homophobia, then I don't know what else to call it!
-
I must agree, this is clearly a homophbic attack.
I dont exactly throw up my breakfast when I see st8 ppl kissing!
-
I distinctly remember the first time I was in Rome seeing a couple kissing passionately, and it seemed rather sweet, like all those ideas about Italy and romance were true. This news is deeply depressing. Not only should they be released, but an apology should be made.
-
Gents,
don't forget here in Italy we have the Pope… Living within is a tough task for everybody. Here's a simple and clear demonstration of the silliest attitude policemen can assume when led from religion.As a matter of fact... We are in the XXI century and still religion WOULD like to rule...
No more words...
Nice68.
-
well it seems a bit odd
the collossium and the circus maximus have been well known gay cruising grounds for centuries.I do know that Rome went on a campaign to clean up it's decaying monuments in recent years and there was a film made mouring the loss of the trannie and gay subculture that had existed in these ruined and overgrown sites for eternity.
So i suspect that the arrest is part of an enforcement of change coupled with a tention between the present hard nosed ultra rightwing pope and the forces of gay liberation that threaten to do to the catholic church what has happened to the Anglican church.
-
**HHmmmm. now it was Greece waaayyy back when who had 11-16 year old boys as their "Apprentices" or what have you… can we think for a minute what is fact about what took place in these scenarios...? It seems this part of the world is going in the opposite direction. How weird.
2 Years in Jail for this just completely boggles my mind. Let's break it down:
[SITUATION] Impact on the community and those surrounding you
2 Guys kissing = hhmmm other than if Children are around uhm… Love?
[fact]Drug Lord = Contributing to the decay of Global Populations
Serial Killer = Self ExplanatoryPOP QUIZ: Which one has the most negative impact?
Who the hell is running this world?** -
I must agree, this is clearly a homophbic attack
Nonsense ! As long as we dont know how they really behaved and acted , we cant consider this as a homophobic attack .
