Speaker of Italian Parliament Writes Open Letter to "Suicidal" Gay Teen

While much of Europe is increasingly gay friendly, one stand out for continued anti-gay bigotry to date has been Italy, perhaps because of the insidious influence the Vatican and Roman Catholic Church continue to exert in that nation.  At times I find it a baffling phenomenon given the world wide sex abuse scandal with cover up efforts that track right back to the Vatican.  One can only wonder when modernity will win out over the ignorance and bigotry and centuries long track record of being wrong on scientific knowledge issues that are the reality of the Catholic Church.   Now, correspondence between Laura Boldrini (pictured above) , the Speaker of the Italian Parliament and a 17 year old gay youth has garnered national attention.  The Independent reports on the situation.  Here are highlights:

the speaker of the parliament has asked to meet a young gay man who says he feels suicidal in one of Europe’s most homophobic societies. Davide Tancredi, said: “I am gay, I am 17-years old and this letter is my last alternative to suicide in a troglodyte society; in a world that does not accept me even though I’m born that way. In a public exchange of letters that has touched many Italians, The letter published in La Repubblica newspaper on 25 May, by  “Not everyone is fortunate enough to be born heterosexual. If there was a little less discrimination and a little more sympathy or Christian charity, people would stop hating.”

In response to the letter, which was given considerable prominence by the centre-left newspaper, Laura Boldrini, the speaker, responded with an open letter of her own. “I have a daughter not much older than you, and I’m deeply disturbed by your cry for help,” she said, before asking to meet Mr Tancredi in parliament to discuss how the situation for gays might be improved.

Italy is, officially at least, the most homophobic country in Western Europe. Thanks largely to the influence of the Vatican, there is no legislation allowing for civil partnerships and no measures to deter homophobic violence or discrimination in the workplace. In this regard it also lags behind South Africa and several Latin American countries.

“A country that considers itself civilised cannot afford to live without a law against ‘homophobia, an evil that drives many young people to take their own lives,” Ms Boldrini said. The supposedly political neutral speaker has angered the Italian right after several proclamations on social issues.

Note how the "godly folk" are up in arms with Ms. Boldrini.  Christianity is increasingly all about hate and bigotry.  Following the Gospel message of love of others and caring for the less fortunate is disappearing from conservative denominations except in terms of lip service.