Mariasilvia Spolato, the woman
credited with being the first Italian lesbian to come out, has
died at the age of 83, the Alto Adige daily newspaper reported a
photographer who knew her as saying.
Spolato, a university lecturer who graduated in mathematics
with full marks, died at a rest home in Bolzano a few days ago,
Lorenzo Zambello said.
She reportedly lost everything, her job, her partner and her
family ties, after coming out in 1972 and she ended up living
homeless on the streets of the northern city for some time.
"All the staff at the rest home were upset and pained," said
Zambello.
"Silvia had won everyone's heart. It was an honour for me to
be able to photograph her.
"She did not like being shot.
"While we were doing portraits at the rest home in the
spring, she approached me".
The GayLib association paid tribute to "a historic lesbian
militant, one of the pioneers of the Italian homosexual
liberation movement".
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