Nichi Vendola is 'afraid' to go out alone at night in Rome
Puglia's gay governor criticizes climate of fear as vote nears
05 February, 14:44
(ANSA) - Rome, February 5 - Nichi Vendola, the gay governor
of Italy's Puglia region kicked up a storm on Tuesday when he
said that he is afraid to go out alone at night in Rome.
In an interview Tuesday with Il Fatto Quotidiano, Vendola -
who is also the head of left-wing political party SEL - said
that "this climate forces me to limit the spaces of my private
life. I am forced to manage every move with caution. If I want
to go out alone for a walk in Rome in the evening, I choose not
to".
Vendola criticized what he said was a tolerance of
anti-homosexual groups and acts in the country.
"In Italy the fact that I am insulted by fascists and Nazis
from various networks does not even solicit regret".
He also criticized the church, saying that a "certain
ecclesiastic environment even impedes the making of rules to
sanction violence" against gays.Vendola, a controversial figure in Italy's often conservative politics, also promised Tuesday to introduce "in the coming days" a law to legalize gay marriage.
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