Looks like the United States isn’t the only nation with an outspoken, no-holds-barred, politically incorrect politico.
Move over, Donald Trump. Enter Venice, Italy’s, mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who insists that there will be no gay pride parade, which has been proposed in Venice. “Let them go and do it in Milan, or in front of their own homes,” he said.
Not only did Brugnaro anger gay rights activists in Italy — which is one of the few remaining European nations which does not recognize same-sex marriage — he has also managed to incur the wrath of British singer Sir Elton John.
This is not the first time Mayor Brugnaro has incensed the pop singer, who owns a home in Venice. Earlier this month Brugnaro removed 49 children’s books which feature gay couples from Venetian preschools and primary schools.
Elton John blasted the mayor in an Instagram post, calling him “boorishly bigoted.”
https://youtu.be/8gYx4sx-x9I
The outspoken Mayor Brugnaro is not about to back down, not even in the face of wealthy pop-singer-turned-social-justice-warrior Elton John. He wrote on social media that John’s remarks “represented the arrogance of someone who is rich and can do whatever they want … I have to think about the majority of families where there is a mother and a father.” He added that John “has not set foot in Venice for three years.”
As for that proposed gay pride parade in Venice: Brugnaro called it “a joke” and “the ultimate in kitsch,” angering Italian gay rights activists.
Admirers of the stunningly beautiful and historic Italian city have long been concerned that it is slowly sinking in the Adriatic Sea. I’m not sure if anything can be done to shore up the city, but it appears that the bold Venetian mayor wants to ensure that it doesn’t sink morally as well.
Appalled By The World says: Viva Venezia!
Edward Garton says: @Kim Hirsch…”it appears that the bold Venetian mayor wants to ensure that it doesn’t sink morally as well.”… Individuals being proud of an aspect about themselves that the “heteronormative” world has condemned for centuries is not reflective of “sinking morally”. Yours and the Mayors bigoted opinions are not necessary or appreciated. It’s just more of what the LGBT community has had to deal with over the centuries… Enough already.
Jodi says: I don’t think silencing speech is ever a good thing. The First Amendment is quintessentially American, and if we were to lose that here, our Republic would cease to exist, and we’d be no better than most of the rest of the world, including it would appear, Venice. More speech. Not less.
Kim Quade says: These are promises the mayor made to voters prior to his election, and he’s actually fulfilling them.
You’re right, this would not be a good thing in the U.S., but even here there are local restrictions on protests and demonstrations.
Andy says: @Jodi: He didn’t silence free speech. No one’s been barred from expressing their opinion. It’s a particular *event* that’s been blocked.
Even the freest societies in the world haven’t been built on *absolute* freedom. The measure of freedom is always relative to a given worldview. In order to establish your position as the superior one, you need to argue on a worldview level. Can you do that…?
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