Representatives of the People of Freedom, the League, and the Christian Democrats cited Concia: "Serious reflection on coherence in politics is needed."
The Democratic Party's Mancuso: I am not the author, but I inspired the publication of the list
by ANNALISA CUZZOCREA
ROME – A pirate blog with a foreign domain. A colorful page with the slogan "Listouting" and the claim to reveal ten names of gay politicians, "or politicians of other sexualities," who are also homophobic. It began as revenge for the rejection in Parliament of the anti-homophobia law. It was announced by Aurelio Mancuso, a Democratic Party activist and longtime leader of gay rights movements, who now says, "It wasn't me," but justifies the publication and acknowledges having "inspired" it. The list includes parliamentarians from the People of Freedom (PdL), the League (Lega), and the Christian Democrats (UDC), a regional governor, and an undersecretary. But there's no evidence. Nothing to prove that what's being said is true, and not just a "trickle of gossip," as Arcigay president Paolo Patané claims.
Those directly involved don't seem to be too upset. "I was afraid I'd ended up on a list of secret Inter fans," says Massimo Corsaro, deputy leader of the PDL group in the Chamber of Deputies, a true Juventus fan. "To benefit from political correctness, I should endorse the information," jokes Maurizio Gasparri, president of the PDL senators, "but I'm a banal heterosexual." Mario Baccini is more piqued, assuring he's been called by about a hundred concerned women, starting with his wife. Fortunately, there's a "female committee for the protection of Latino men," which is asking UNESCO to recognize them "as male heritage of humanity." Roberto Formigoni, governor of Lombardy, isn't smiling at all: "Sick fantasies of unspeakable characters," he comments.
Most of all, much of the gay community isn't smiling. In the United States, outings were born to counter politicians who, to hide their homosexuality, targeted gays. It was invented by a journalist, Michelangelo Signorile, who exposed the hypocrisy in The Advocate magazine and provided evidence. What's happening here is different. The empty and anonymous list feeds internet users a mere rumor. It spreads it, thus offending many LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) associations. "A crude, cowardly, barbaric operation, reminiscent of the Boffo case," attacks Alessio De Giorgi, director of Gay.it. "A pirate act, an outing all'amatriciana," says Fabrizio Marrazzo, spokesperson for Gay Center. "Unacceptable," says the Mario Mieli circle. Counterproductive, argues Imma Battaglia: "On these issues, on the inconsistency between life and politics, Italians aren't willing to be as outraged as they are in the United States," explains the organizer of Italy's first gay pride parade. Furthermore, the list has a negative effect because "it distracts from the campaigns the movement is launching to bring Italy into line with European standards on civil rights.".
Paola Concia and Ignazio Marino are opposed but more understanding. The Democratic Party MP, who saw her anti-homophobia bill rejected outright by some of the politicians on the list, and many others, urges that this not lead to a gang war, and calls for serious reflection on political coherence. The Democratic senator considers the initiative reckless, but "a product of the radicalization of the debate on civil rights in a country where politics is failing to affirm the principle of full equality of citizens in a secular manner.".
Mara Carfagna calls it a "cynical and violent hoax. Gratuitous defamation that certainly doesn't help the fight against homophobia." For the word "defamation," however, the Minister for Equal Opportunities has run into criticism from Democratic Party (PD) leader Dario Ginefra, who accuses her of a Freudian slip: "Considering someone gay doesn't mean defaming them." Emma Bonino harshly told Repubblica: "It's a frightening story. And serious. If someone claims to be 'other,' even in the sense of respectful and tolerant, they don't retaliate in kind. I believe a terrible mistake has been made."
