Gay politicians go online, it's a storm

A list of 10 names has been published. Arcigay: The initiative is despicable, but the movement is divided.
by Maria Berlinguer
ROME. All center-right and all homophobic. A minister and a regional president are also on the list of ten alleged politicians with gay associations published yesterday by a blog of anonymous internet users, possibly living abroad. A dry list of names, without any commentary or incident, published "to bring some justice to a country where there are people who have no defense against the daily insults and attacks from a hypocritical and malicious political class," write the authors of the web outing, shortly announcing a new list of politicians, journalists, and clergy. "From now on, when attacks against the community occur, we will reserve the right to respond appropriately." "I had heard that my name would be added to a defamatory list, and for a moment I feared they would include me in the list of secret Inter fans: all things considered, it's better this way," quips Massimo Corsaro, vice president of the People of Freedom (PDL) in the Chamber of Deputies. "I'm seriously concerned because I've already received hundreds of phone calls from worried women, starting with my wife Diana," adds Mario Baccini. "These are sick fantasies of unspeakable characters," criticizes Roberto Formigoni, governor of Lombardy and a leading member of CL. The operation has deeply divided the gay world. "It's a despicable initiative," attacks Paolo Patanè, president of Arcigay. "It's a boomerang on the fight for the civil rights of homosexual people," adds Franco Grillini, now head of civil rights for Italia dei Valori after a long stint in Arcgay. "It's a way that has never occurred to me, having been fighting a battle in the open for years," warns Paola Concia of the Democratic Party, urging everyone to reflect and not turn such a delicate matter into a gang war. For Mara Carfagna, Minister for Equal Opportunities, it is "a cynical and violent hoax." Aurelio Mancuso, president of Equality Italia and the instigator of the initiative, disagrees. "I had nothing to do with it. This morning I saw it like everyone else," he assures. For Mancuso, the publication is "certainly an extreme move, but one that, given the many reactions online, gives voice to a widespread sense of indignation in the Italian gay community.".