Gay Pride along Grand Canal says Venice mayor

(ANSA) - Venice, August 28 - Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, under fire for banning 'gender' books from the city's schools, said Friday he was open to holding a Gay Pride procession on the Grand Canal, perhaps featuring one of his harshest critics, Elton John.
    It was a volte-face for the controversial Northern League mayor, who earlier this week said Venice would not hold a Gay Pride parade.
    "I'm open to holding the first Gay Pride on water, along the Grand Canal, opened by heterosexuals and perhaps with Elton John playing for us," Brugnaro said.
    Sir Elton, who has two sons aged two and four with partner David Furnish, said after the gay books ban that the mayor was "boorishly bigoted".