Gays and Kissing Banned, Hunchback: A Question of Decorum

Kissing prohibited? A matter of "urban decorum." And not just for gays. Commenting on the Ikea ad featuring a gay couple holding hands, Mayor Gian Paolo Gobbo was blunt. The next day, he clarified: not a crusade against kissing, but simply a call for sobriety. On Radio 24's "La Zanzara," Mayor Gianpaolo Gobbo said the other evening: "I would fine two men for kissing in a public park in my city. It's a matter of decorum." He added: "I would also fine a man and a woman for kissing in a public park, again for reasons of decorum.".
Overwhelmed by the predictable outrage, Gobbo clarifies and specifies: "The media wants to stir up a fuss. But I've said and I repeat that it always depends on the context, the place, and the circumstances you're in. It's a question of aesthetics, of public decency. I don't like provocations or ostentation. A kiss on the lips between two sweethearts? It depends on how they kiss: a peck on the mouth is one thing. If you hold out for a quarter of an hour to show off that you're better than the others, I don't think it's okay. Besides, in an age where kids can watch anything and everything by simply opening a computer or television, I think some rules need to be put in place. A certain aesthetic is needed. Fines? My reasoning is general; there are no rules or ordinances.".
The next day's comments didn't stem the reactions. "These are shameful words, to say the least," commented Alessandro Zan, regional director of Arcigay. "Those in public office should always be careful with their words. Doing so risks triggering a spiral of homophobic violence. A kiss is a gesture of tenderness and love. Institutions should encourage it, not condemn it. If Gobbo is bothered by gay kisses, I'll say that I'm bothered by the green shirts they flaunt: but that doesn't mean I'm preventing their expression."