Man Arrested In Rome For Torture And Murder Of Gay Men

A British national named Jason Peter Marshall has been arrested for the torture of one gay man and the murder of another. Marshall, was arrested Friday for the torture of a gay tour guide he had met on a gay chat room. The suspect pretended to be a British intelligence officer and also robbed the man, before fleeing the victim's home.

The Telegraph reports:

"They ate dinner, watched TV and kissed but did not have sex," said a Rome police officer connected to the investigation. "Then the victim noticed that Marshall was carrying a gun and demanded to know why," he said. "Marshall claimed to be working for MI5 and involved in security at the British embassy in Rome. When the victim did not believe him, Marshall flew into a violent rage."

The victim alleged Marshall then punched him repeatedly and suffocated him with cushions. "He tortured him for hours to get him to reveal his bank card code," said the officer. Four hundred euros (£348) was also stolen from the apartment.

Marshall is suspected in the murder of another man last month in a town just outside of Rome. It is believed he also met that man on an online gay chat room. 

Italian PM Monti Now Saying No To Marriage Equality

One has to assume Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's pals at the Vatican weren't pleased with his previously laissez-faire approach to marriage equality, because the lawmaker, up for reelection, has changed his tune.

Monti surprised observers earlier this month by saying that marriage equality was up to the Parliament and only the Parliament. Now he's saying, "never mind:" families should only be one man, one woman and their offspring.

"My thought is that the family should be made up of one man and one woman, and I consider it necessary that children should grow up with a mother and a father," Monti said yesterday, according to Reuters, marking the first time he's brought up social issues during his bid to keep his post. 

"Parliament can find other solutions for other kinds of unions and cohabitations."

News: 'We Do,' Zayn Malik, Italy, Outkast

Anti-gay activist Brian Brown is in France trying to stir up more homophobia in the nation's debate about marriage equality.

Former Smithsonian researcher Tim Gold and his husband Mitchell Gold, of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Furniture, hope to open an LGBT history museum.

The Campaign for Southern Equality will take its "I Do" campaign to Virginia next week, where same-sex couples will try to get marriage licenses to protest nuptial discrimination.

Italy's High Court ruled yesterday that same-sex couples can adopt.

The Vatican, predictably, is pissed. "Monogamous families constitute the ideal place to learn the significance of human relations and represent the social and anthropological environment in which the best type of growth is possible," bioethicist Adriano Pessina wrote in the Vatican's newspaper, clearly basing his argument on the homophobic assumption that same-sex couples are incapable of monogamy.

The world's 100 oldest living Oscar nomineees.

Dallas city officials recorded a 13-minute "It Gets Better" video.

"Why Is NBC Sports Sponsoring America’s Largest Gun Show?"

James Yeager, the man who promised to start killing people if President Obama tries restrict access to deadly firearms, has had his gun permit suspended.

Sorry, Star Wars fans, but the Obama administration says we can't afford the $850 quadrillion it would take to make a Death Star. Also, do we really need a device capable of blowing up planets?

Hot: Outkast (Andre 3000 and Big Boi) got back together to help Frank Ocean on his track "Pink Matter."

Paying it woofward: Dog teaches puppy how to walk down the stairs.

Sorry, but Johnny Cash did not write a song called "I'll Have The Wine," though I'm sure he wanted to...

Jeremy Renner shines fabulously at Hansel and Gretel premiere in Mexico.

Happy 20th birthday to One Direction singer Zayn Malik.

And congratulations to all the winners at the International Web TV Awards.

Canadian Blood Services wants gay men to be able to donate if they haven't had sex with a man in the past five years. The AIDS Calgary Awareness Association says that's not enough: the entire ban must be lifted.

A wonderful profile of openly gay boxer Orlando Cruz.

Only one-in-seven Americans approve of Congress. Shocking, I know.

Legacy: "George Prescott Bush is gearing up to run for a little-known but powerful office in a state where his family already is a political dynasty and where his Hispanic roots could help extend a stranglehold on power Republicans have enjoyed for two decades." That office? The Texas Land Commission.

Silvio Berlusconi, Marriage Equality Advocate?

Is the former Italian Prime Minister an advocate of equal marriage? LGBT groups are suspicious.

Gay Star News:

Last Monday Berlusconi said:

‘I’m in favor of granting legal status to couples who live together, including gays, if there is a majority that makes it possible to change the civil code’.

But Italy’s gay groups are expressing concern and ‘disillusion’.

Fabrizio Marrazzo, Gay Center’s leader, said: 'The three governments Berlusconi led between 1994 and 2011 did nothing for LGBT people. Concrete proposals are certainly necessary.'

Leading LGBT association Arcigay’s president Flavio Romani said: 'I have legitimate suspicions about such a sudden change of course. Berlusconi should put his pledge in black and white.'

Enrico Oliari, president of a right-wing LGBT association, welcomed Berlusconi’s remarks: ‘Berlusconi’s opening-up over the recognition of gay couples is a piece of news you cannot fail to take account of.’

Italian Premier Backed By Vatican Says Marriage Equality Up To Parliament

Rather than falling in line behind his anti-gay political backers at the Vatican, Italian Premier Mario Monti told Sky TG24 TV today that he thinks marriage equality should be decided by Parliament, not him or any outside force.

[Monti] says gay rights issues — including gay marriage —should be decided by Parliament, not his government if he wins.

Monti told Sky TG24 TV on Sunday that issues involving personal dignity are more important that economic reforms.

But he stressed that his coalition forces, which include pro-Vatican centrists, came together to work on the more "urgent" task of achieving economic growth in recession-mired Italy.

He says the new Parliament will have a greater role than the government in dealing with gay rights.

Though he didn't say whether he supports same-sex marriage, the fact that Monti didn't claim gay marriage would destroy civilization, as perpetually paranoid pal Pope Benedict does, is notable enough.

2012 In 4 Minutes: VIDEO

Filmmaker Ryan James Yezak took a break from his forthcoming documentary, Second Class Citizens, to review 2012 and compile this 4-minute review of the year ending in a few hours. It's all here: Honey Boo, Obama's reelection, the cruise ship overturning off the coast of Italy...

Relive the past twelve months in four minutes of "that happened too?" AFTER THE JUMP.