Italy's Democratic party has some competition. Politicos and activists from the Communist and Green parties announced plans this week to court the queer vote:

In an interview for the newspaper Il Giornale, the outgoing speaker of Italy’s parliament, Fausto Bertinotti, announced that the Rainbow Left, a coalition of Italian Communists and the Green party, will challenge the Democratic Party for the votes of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals.

Bertinotti, leader of the red-green coalition, stated, “The Rainbow Left will bring to parliament a significant gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual presence…Our candidates include a significant number of individuals of these different sexual orientations and affections.”

The Rainbow Left has a lot of work to do, however: an estimated 50% of homos vote for the Democratic party.