Italy's Democrats of the Left party reaffirmed their support of gay rights in the primarily Catholic country. Speaking after Sunday's so-called "Family Day" (a conservative orgy of the traditional variety), party leader Piero Fassino told the press: We will not step back from recognizing the rights of homosexuals." Fassino also promised to support the controversial same-sex amendment.

Catholic World News reports:

"Secularism will not give in" to religious principles, Fassino said. As for the proposal to grant legal recognition to same-sex unions, he said that the principle of equal rights for homosexuals is "a non-negotiable and absolute value."

Fassino went on to tell the press that he and his queer-loving comrades will march in the Pride Festival on June 16th. Not surprisingly, conservatives wagged a faggot-hating finger. We've got a finger for them, too...

In an effort to rally against gay marriage, a number of Italy's anti-gay groups have come together in support of "Family Day". Scheduled for May 12th, the rally hopes to highlight the importance of "traditional" families in a nation torn between social progress and spiritual stagnation. The event's manifesto reads:

Only in the family founded on the stable union of a man and a woman and opened to a natural, orderly procreation, the offspring are born and raised in a community of love and life from which they can expect a civil, moral and religious education.

It does not mention, however, that the event takes place on the 33rd anniversary of the vote allowing divorce. Guess that would tarnish their family image, huh?

Italian family day out to oppose gay rights [Pink News UK]

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• Andrew Christian + scantily clad underwear models forced to restrain themselves lest they frighten the newscaster = one remarkably entertaining clip. [Google Video]

• Two foolish 21-year old Colorado college students have been arrested for allegedly attacking two homos. Luckily, it seems like it was a pretty even fight. [Rocky Mountain News]

• LSU's lady basketball coach Pokey Chatman has resigned after poking one of her ladies. [AfterEllen]

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• UPDATE: Don't forget to come get drunk with us at the Jimmy Im endorsed, eastern bloc housed Goodtimes. Details after the jump...

CONTINUED »

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Meanwhile, in happier news, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and his coalition government have approved a bill that may pave the way for civil partnerships. While not as far reaching as similar laws in other countries, the proposed bill will allow people who live together to share inheritance, property and pensions, among other things. Piero Fassino of the Democrats of the Left party lauded the bill:

It's the first time in the legislation of our country that people who live together, heterosexual or homosexual, will have their basic rights recognized...[The bill] allows the recognition of the rights of those who live together by making this cohabitation more serene and solid, and at the same time respecting the Italian constitution, which guarantees that the family is founded on marriage.

Of course, not everyone's so excited. A number of conservative politicians have already promised to strike down the bill. Right winger Roberto Calderoli blasted the decision: "They are destroying the family, this...is just a Trojan Horse to allow marriage between gays." Though there's been no word from the Vatican as of yet, we're sure Pope Benedict XVI will have something nasty to say.

We also predict that he'll go on a killing rampage, biting off the heads of all the homos he can find before tossing their lifeless bodies in the street, where they'll rot, spread disease and lead to the second Black Plague. But, we could be wrong...

Archaeologists got a bit of romantic surprise when they uncovered these skeletons in their final embrace. Discovered near the northern Italian city of Mantova, the petrified pair are estimated to be over 5,000 years old and certainly the first of their kind. Lead archaeologist Elena Menotti says:

There has not been a double burial found in the Neolithic period, much less two people hugging -- and they really are hugging. I must say that when we discovered it, we all became very excited. I've been doing this job for 25 years. I've done digs at Pompeii, all the famous sites. But I've never been so moved because this is the discovery of something special.

Menotti thinks they couple - who she believes to be a man and a woman, but we'd like to think are two men - died young, for their teeth are pretty much intact. Scientists are now working on confirming their age and time of death.

Things are heating up over in Italy. Tomorrow Prime Minister Romano Prodi will lead a debate on a bill that will allow unmarried couples - homos included - to register for state-sponsored benefits. Of course, his Pope Benedict XVI and his faithful friends have loads to say about gay unions, none of it good, including:

Projects aimed at granting improper legal recognition to forms of unions other [than traditional marriage] appear dangerous and counterproductive as they inevitably weaken and destabilize the legitimate family based on matrimony.

Though the Vatican would like to think it exercises considerable power over the primarily Catholic nation, a public opinion poll suggests otherwise. Bloomberg News reports:

Two-thirds of Italians favor legalization of de facto couples, regardless of sexual orientation, Rome-based research institute Eurispes said in its 2007 annual report released Jan. 26. Among practicing Catholics, 45 percent are against, a separate poll by SWG Srl showed.

Those Catholics will prove invaluable as the Vatican mobilizes its rank-and-file against the measure. Of course, it still seems like they're outnumbered. Thank the totally mythically, culturally concocted gods.

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Boldpt from Britain's anti-discrimination laws.

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Remember when Italian pols Bruno Mellano and Donatella Poretti "disgraced" Rome's nativity scene with gay marriage dolls? Well, it seems Mellano got a verbal spanking from House Speaker Fausto Bertinotti, leading him to write this letter:

I write to you today after having received your formal call with which you deplored the episode which involved my colleague Poretti and myself, after having listened to the words of colleagues who expressed themselves and read the e-mails of protest which have been received. Following my apology, made yesterday during a meeting of my party's National Committee, and aimed at all those, believers and non-, who felt their religion and faith offended, I present to you too, president of all the MPs, my apologies for this obscene gesture, considered by some to be blasphemous and sacrilegious. This obviously does not mean renouncing the political battle that on that day we wanted to bring to the attention of institutions and citizens: i.e. the necessity that parliament pass the law as soon as possible extending rights and duties to the so-called 'de facto couples' as well. What happened following my gesture, believe me, was a source of sincere regret. I thank for the attention, and give you my best wishes for a happy new year.

As if Mellano couldn't get any cuter, he uses his apology to reiterate his message. We're totally in love.

Those pro-gay leftist Italian politicians sure are crazy. Bruno Mellano and Donatella Poretti, both of the "Rose in the Fist" party, are under fire after placing two gay couples in the Italian Parliament's Nativity scene. Wild, right?

Mellano and Poretti represent the small "Rose in the Fist" party (which, we think, should be called Fisting The Rose, but nevermind), defiled the sacred scene of Jesus' ramshackle birth to promote more pro-gay legislation in the predominantly Catholic country. As can be suspected, people weren't so supportive. A gaggle of girls from the Forza Italia party said:

This is a vulgar and unacceptable double attack against both a (national) institution as well as a religious symbol...

Yeah, that was the idea.

What's most surprising about this incident is that none of the other pro-gay political parties, most notably the Communist party, defended Mellano and Poretti. In fact, one Commie called their actions, "a grave political error". You know you're in trouble when even the Commie's wag their egalitarian fingers.

We don't see what all the fuss is about, it's not like they took a dump on baby Jesus' sweet-little face. All they did was put toys in the scene - toys which were removed by security within minutes. Basically, all the other politicians are just pussies. Poretti and Mellano? They're total bad-asses who will be villified and probably hated for life: a small price to pay for taking a stand. Besides, who wants to be homies with a bunch of homo-haters, anyway? They're totally boring.

(PS: How great is this picture of Jesus? We can practically hear him saying, "Whoa! You guys need to chill out. You're giving me a headache and totally cramping my style. Now, someone bring me some water - I need to make some wine and get drizzed.")

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