A young gay couple say they were relaxing in the pool at a local beach resort when a staff member harassed them.
The 17-year-old and 18-year-old say they were recently “intimidated” by a lifeguard at the Lido Arcobaleno beach resort in Caserta, in the Campania region of southwestern Italy, after sharing a brief hug in the water.
“We were in the pool like everyone else,” one of the teens told Repubblica. “While we were in the water, like everyone else present, we also embraced, a spontaneous embrace, but we are two men and it was not appreciated.”
The lifeguard allegedly approached the couple and demanded they stop hugging as “there are children present in the facility.” He then asked them to be more “composed.”
The couple said several other couples were in the water, as well, but none of them were asked to refrain from hugging. The other couples were all, coincidentally, straight.
LGBTQ activist Bernardo Diana said that despite laws that promise equal rights for gay couples, antigay discrimination still happens on a regular basis in Italy, pointing to another resort in the area that recently refused a room to a same-sex couple because the host “does not rent to animals or gays.”
A rep for the Lido Arcobaleno beach resort denied allegations of homophobia, telling Repubblica that the lifeguard only intervened because other pool-goers complained about the couple.
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Stache
I might believe that but the lifeguard sure made it about himself when he talked about children being present.
Terrycloth
BUT in Italy it’s OK for men to kiss each other’s cheeks or go in for a long embrace…yet 2 teenage boys a brief is not..maybe they were wrestling as boys do..lifeguard was getting turned on..must stop it before he gets overly excited
SammySeattle
“A rep for the Lido Arcobaleno beach resort denied allegations of homophobia, telling Repubblica that the lifeguard only intervened because other pool-goers complained about the couple”
Homophobia by proxy is still homophobia.
GayEGO
Outrageous! If gays can’t hug then neither can straights!
Ummmm Yeah
I find it hard to believe everyone else in the pool was hugging. Or even one other couple for that matter.
Ksb1978
Makes no difference, the guys have every right to hug each other.
Ummmm Yeah
It’s private property. The owners have the right to set policies. So yeah it does matter if they were the only one’s doing it.
Ejens005
Why would you find that hard to believe? Are you from Amish country? Also, why would anyone – gay or straight – want to vacation at a resort where hugging in the pool is not allowed? Sounds like a great time!
dwes09
What is it about you regressives? The fact that YOU find something hard to believe has no bearing whatsoever on whether it is true or not. What exactly makes it so hard for you to believe that couples horse around in pools, hug or even (gasp!) kiss. As for the ludicrous comment regarding “private property,” were there any truth to that there would still be White only facilities in the US, “No Jews Allowed” signs on country clubs and so on. Businesses must adhere to non-discrimination laws REGARDLESS of whether they are on public or private property. I am fairly certain such non-discrimination rules exist in Italy as well as they are still in the EU which has a strong human rights ethic.
highestbidder
Yeah, I think you’re pretty much full of it. I’ll admit I don’t keep a tally, but I’ve been to a lot of pools and I really don’t recall a lot of hugging and kissing going on. So, sorry…
He BGB
People really weird out over 2 men showing affection but 2 women? Even the sign shows 2 men holding hands.
fredo777
@ Ummm Yeah
So, what if no other couples were hugging? Is hugging somehow obscene?
ShowMeGuy
Meanwhile three lounge chairs away a fat and hairy couple….one man, one woman…..were inches away from full on intercourse. Hello. It’s Italy.
Daniel-Reader
If other couples complain you ask the lifeguard to point out which ones so you can have a talk with them. If he doesn’t then the lifeguard is the source of the problem.
DCguy
“”A rep for the Lido Arcobaleno beach resort denied allegations of homophobia, telling Repubblica that the lifeguard only intervened because other pool-goers complained about the couple. “”
So their excuse is that if the resort told an Asian/White couple to stop hugging, it wouldn’t be racist if it was because other couples complained?
Sorry, you don’t get a free pass on bigotry just because somebody ASKED you to be a bigot. This is the same B.S. that bigots always use. “Oh, WE aren’t the bigots, we’re just doing what other people ask us to.”
dfwenigma
I would suggest that the resort embrace strict rules. No public displays of affection. “Decent” swim wear. Full length swimsuits down to the knee. No kissing of any kind. No touching except on the upper back. Handshakes only. Decent conversation – no mention of love or sex. There’s the solution. I wonder how long that resort would survive?
Ejens005
Definitely down to at least the knee, since women don’t shave above the knee. Unless they’re a certain type of woman.