Anti-Gay Vatican Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo Dies at 72

Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, who voiced the Vatican's opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, contraception, and gay adoption, and spread false information about HIV prevention, died of cardiac arrest in Rome over the weekend.

The NYT: "Cardinal Trujillo, a Colombian, served as president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. He often expressed views on sexual issues that stirred contention, most notably in 2003 when he said that condoms did not prevent the spread of AIDS because the virus that causes it, H.I.V., can 'easily pass through.' The World Health Organization quickly responded that condoms were 90 percent effective against transmission and that when they failed, it was usually because of improper use...In 2004, Cardinal Trujillo characterized a proposal in Spain to allow gay marriage as a 'sad step,' and when it was enacted the next year he urged civil officials to refuse to perform such marriages, even at the cost of their jobs."

In 2005, Trujillo said that adoption by gays was a "morally violent" act and destroys the future of children: "People say these children adopted by same sex couples are very happy. Maybe, when they are one or two years old. But when they are able to think for themselves, when they grow up, what a tragedy when they have to say 'my parents are two men, or two women'. Their personality, their stability is put at risk."

Trujillo was 72.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Scores One in Rome

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo pleased fans back at home in the team's 2-0 win over Roma last night, doffing his shirt and exchanging it with French Defender Philippe Mexes. Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney both scored goals to advance the team in the Champions League.

One more shot, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
Cristiano Ronaldo Has Some Seductive Weapons in His Arsenal [tr]
Cristiano Ronaldo: Me Look Pretty One Day [tr]
Cristiano Ronaldo is Back [tr]
Cristiano Ronaldo Takes a Hit Where it Counts [tr]

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Italian Gay Activist Fabrizio Marrazzo Hit with Death Threats

The president of Italy's largest gay activist group Arcigay has received a series of death threats via phone and text messages, gay news italy reports.

Via Gays Without Borders:

"It was presented in Rome by Arcigay a complaint against unknown persons for death threats received in recent days, and regarding the president of the association, Fabrizio Marrazzo. It is reported by Fabrizio Marrazzo him, indicating threats came through repeated phone calls and short text messages. 'The threats that have been sent have certainly troubled, myself and my dearest family, but we are not deterred by a step, in that we do for years to combat homophobia in the city of Rome.' Marrazzo, which has undertaken to place great trust in the police investigation, said that in recent years Arcigay has done many events for the civil rights of lesbians gay and trans, and has dealt with many sensitive cases, such as the murder of Paolo Seganti, the murder of Roberto Chiesa and thousands of complaints that we have received through the Arcigay’s toll-free number. 'No action - concluded - will stop our commitment.'"

The battle for gay rights in Italy goes on.

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News: Newark, Spencer Pratt, Chicago, Charlie Crist, Uruguay

Following the murders of two gay black men on Chicago's south side in the past month, authorities are wondering if a serial killer may be responsible: "On November 17, 24-year-old Larry Bland was shot to death in his Englewood home. Bland, a security guard at Northwestern Hospital was shot more than once after struggling with a man who had entered the house through an unlocked basement door. Then on December 23, 47-year-old Donald Young, the choir director at Trinity United Church of Christ, was shot multiple times in his South Side apartment. His roommate found his body."

Spencer Pratt of The Hills turns down offer from Michael Lucas to appear in gay porn movie. Lucas: "He was born to be in a gay-porn blockbuster. Lucas Entertainment would do anything to be able to center our next major all-male production on Spencer Pratt."

Will Smith apologizes for Hitler remarks.

Harassment of gay teen prompts uproar, petition, review of policies at Pennsylvania high school: "Few days went by without his being punched, kicked or tripped by classmates at Susquehanna Twp. High School in Dauphin County. The teenager, an openly gay boy described by friends as kind and compassionate, said he was constantly harassed, though he never reported it to anyone, not even his friends. Finally, when classmates told him to 'go kill himself' to "make the world a better place," the teen decided he'd had enough. He said he left school in the middle of his senior year because he could no longer bear the torment."

GREEN: Times Square New Year's Eve ball converted to energy-saving LEDs.

Thomas Morgan III, former president of the National Association of Black Journalists and reporter and editor at the New York Times, dies at 56 of AIDS-related complications.

Madonna to make directorial debut with Filth and Wisdom at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.

Southwest Airlines makes attempt to land in gay market, misses runway?

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez signs first nationwide same-sex civil union law in Latin America.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist "not moved" to support Florida marriage amendment. Perhaps too much "moving" might rattle a few skeletons out of the closet.

"Homosexuality is a human condition": Mayor of Rome criticizes Catholic political leader Dr. Paola Binetti for resisting legislation that would bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Do you believe: Chastity Bono and Cher developing reality show to help gays come out of the closet.

Mr. Cellophane: turns out that the reason Michael Jackson was so bandaged up the other week was because his five-year-old son accidentally smacked him in the face and his (plastic) upper lip collapsed.

Newark, New Jersey gay voguing balls finding a new place in the city's culture: " The city's gay ball subculture -- in which men and women compete in rituals of posing and runway walking, sometimes as the opposite gender -- is earning a place for itself in civic life, with outreach efforts and charity drives. And nowhere is that more surprising than in Newark, a city with no openly gay nightlife, where the 4-year-old murder of 15-year-old lesbian Sakia Gunn, killed for rejecting a man's advances, is still invoked as a symbol of intolerance. The houses, which have a combined membership of more than 100, are now touted by politicians as a significant force in the fight against AIDS and discrimination."

Hilton sisters get lump of coal from grandpa.

Oregon's same-sex couples eagerly await the new year and its new benefits.

David Beckham flattered: "I'm very honoured to have the tag of gay icon. Maybe it's things like (the fact) I like to look after myself, I like to look smart and presentable most of the time."

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Rome's Trevi Fountain Dyed Red by Right-Wing Extremist

The waters in Rome's Trevi Fountain were dyed red by an assailant police later identified as Graziano Cecchini, an "extreme-right sympathizer," according to the Associated Press.

Undertaken in broad daylight in front of dozens of tourists, Cecchini apparently threw the dye into the fountain along with the can it was carried in and fled, but was captured on closed-circuit cameras:

"Police found leaflets near the fountain signed by a right-wing group claiming responsibility for the act. The leaflets said the red paint was a protest for expenses incurred in organizing the Rome Film Festival and symbolically referred to the event's red carpet. Experts cleaned the fountain in a few hours and said the baroque monument, with marble statues depicting the sea deity Neptune on his chariot, had not been permanently damaged."

Gyllenspoon were photographed eyeing the monument on their "first public outing" as well but apparently missed the event.

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Rome Activists Inaugurate 'Gay Street', Hold Massive Kiss-in

The mood was celebratory around Rome's Colisseum as hundreds turned out for a kiss-in that was prefaced by the inauguration of a new street designed to create a focal point for Rome's LGBT citylife.

The Associated Foreign Press reports: "Italy's leading gay rights group Arcigay 'officially' dubbed Via San Giovani in Laterno Rome's new 'Gay Street,' saying it wanted to give the Eternal City a 'point of reference for the gay and lesbian community.' Several establishments frequented by homosexuals have opened in the street since 2001, but Rome does not have a gay district similar to those in other cities."

The kiss-in that followed the ribbon-cutting was a protest against the weekend arrest of a gay couple for kissing outside the recognizable Roman ruin. Police say the couple were doing more than kissing and charged the couple with committing a lewd act, though they have thus far declined to go into specifics about the couple's actions.

According to the AFP, "Thursday's rally had the support of several members of Prime Minister Romano Prodi's centre-left government, including Equal Opportunity Minister Barbara Pollastrini, Youth and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri and Social Solidarity Minister Paolo Ferrero."

Said Ferrero, in a message to Arcigay: "There is still a long road ahead in terms of democracy, freedom and respect."

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(image source)

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Two Men Arrested for Kiss Outside Rome's Colisseum

Two gay men who kissed one another in front of Rome's Colisseum early on Sunday were held by police for 40 minutes and then released. The Carabinieri paramilitary police said they were "not just kissing," a claim disputed by the couple, who have been charged with committing lewd acts in public, a charge that carries a maximum two-year jail sentence.

The couple, identified as Roberto L, 27, and Michele M, 28, say they "only shared a gesture of affection after a night out in the gay bars," according to The Australian.

Colonel Alessandro Casarsa explained the police action: "They acted because there was a couple that was committing a lewd act in front of one of the most viewed monuments in Italy. We apply the law to all in the same way, men and women."

Gay activist groups in Rome immediately responded to the arrest. Arcigay, the largest gay rights organization in Rome, hired the couple a lawyer and planned a kiss-in demonstration at the Colisseum on Thursday. Another group, the Mario Mieli Club, held a kiss-in on Sunday night (pictured here).

Italian MP Vladimir Luxuria expressed concern over the incident: "It's worrying that a gesture of affection is considered a crime. It's absurd that two young people who love each other should spend the night in a police station without having done anything obscene."

She said she would ask the government to explain its position in Parliament.

Gay protest to see Colosseum kiss-in [the australian]
Gay men arrested for 'kissing' outside Colosseum [the guardian]

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Athlete Speared by Javelin at Rome's Golden League Games

A javelin thrown by Finland's Tero Pitkamaki during practice at Rome's Golden League Games missed its intended target on Friday, spearing French long jumper Salim Sdiri in the back. Ouch.

Sridi collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. He was lucky, Reuters reports: " Despite the horrific images of the accident, Sdiri's wound was not as serious as first feared. The javelin pierced only three centimetres into his body. Doctors released him after inserting five stitches -- three external and two internal -- and ruling out possible complications."

Sdiri was released on Saturday but has since returned to the hospital after a blood clot developed at the site of the injury.

UPDATE: Injury more serious than previously thought.

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Posted by Andy in Italy, Javelin, News, Rome, Sports | Permalink | Comments (8)

06/18/2007

Gladiators Return to Ancient Rome in Gay Show of Force

Roman gladiators once again paid a visit to the city's colisseum, this time as warriors for equality in Rome's gay pride march, urging the Italian government to approve a draft bill it is considering that would give gays and lesbians a broad range of new rights. Tens of thousands marched this weekend.

AFP reports: "The raucous and colourful crowd, which included transvestites and lawmakers, marched under a baking sun from Rome's Saint Paul's Gate to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, where anti-gay protestors had staged a giant rally last month. The marchers held up banners screaming: 'For a more European Italy,' 'Rights for All,' and 'Equality, Dignity and Secularism,' as they called upon Prime Minister Romano Prodi to speed up plans to recognise gay unions."

Vladimir Luxuria, the transgender Italian politician who showed her support last month at the Moscow gay rights rally which erupted in violence, marched in a grey and red satin gown. Said Luxuria: "I hope that 2007 will be the year when the rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals are recognised to give us all more peaceful lives."

Gay Pride attracts tens of thousands in Rome [afp]

Rome Gladiators [flickr - claudio napoli]

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Posted by Andy in Gay Pride, Italy, News, Rome | Permalink | Comments (17)

06/01/2007

News: Tammy Faye, Moscow Mayor, Paris Hilton, Gay Football

Homophobic Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov invited to Gay Pride in Stockholm by Swedish politicians: "'It is enormously important that (Russia) moves in the right direction and respects human rights. Being homosexual belongs to those rights,' said Liberal Party member Lotta Edholm, one of the co-signers...They invited Luzhkov to attend the gay pride parade in Stockholm on Aug. 4 "in order for you to see the power of love." Edholm said there had been no immediate reply from the mayor."

Tammy Faye Messner speaks about cancer: "I would say I'm in pain almost 100 percent of the time. My back hurts, so I had to go to a wheelchair. And I have a very bad tummy all the time. When they said there's nothing more we can do, for just about a minute I felt sorry for myself, had my little pity party. Then I said, 'I've got somebody bigger than the doctors, I know the Lord, Jesus Christ, and he can do something for it.' He's the only one that can, and so I just trust Him every day. Today I want you to remember: You can't go forward, looking in the rear view mirror, yesterday is gone, you cannot put a broken egg back together again so don't spend your energy trying."

Yahoo! profiles gay blogger Mike Rogers of BlogActive: "Rogers is a muckraking gay blogger who uses his insider's knowledge of Washington politics and broad blanket of contacts to 'out' gay politicos — but only, he says, if they are undermining gay rights."

Glastonbury Festival line-up announced: "The Who, The Killers and Arctic Monkeys will be headlining on the Pyramid Stage during the three-day event. Among the more than 200 acts listed are Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, The Gossip, Paul Weller, Chemical Brothers and Shirley Bassey. The festival, which starts on 22 June, will be the largest yet, with an extended capacity of 177,500."

Gay British pop star Marc Almond returns...

Travolta lauded for Hairspray.

Hotscots FC, Scotland's first gay football team forms: "Kevin Rowe set up Hotscots FC, which now has around 20 players, in February and he already has set his sights on the gay World Cup in 2008 in London. The 34-year-old, of Leith Walk, played for the Yorkshire Terriers before moving to Edinburgh last year to work as a fundraiser for the Scottish SPCA. A keen footballer since his school days, he said some gay players felt 'uncomfortable' and had suffered discrimination in other teams. He said: 'It's for gay people who like football, but who feel a little intimidated playing in straight teams. The social side is very important.'"

The NYT makes a visit to eccentric artist Hunt Slonem's Louisiana plantation house: "Mr. Slonem says that one morning he went swimming and saw faces looking at him from the trees, and a psychic friend later identified them as slaves who died in an epidemic. He’s also seen a woman in a blue antebellum dress passing through. He says that not only do these old houses choose you, but somehow you are metaphysically adopted by all the families that lived in them before, and those people tell you what they think."

State Department orders website to remove photos of new luxe $592 million embassy in Iraq: "According to news reports, 'Some U.S. officials acknowledged that damage may have been done by the postings and used expletives to describe their personal reactions.' But it is unclear whether the damage was done to security or public relations. (Aerial images of the embassy can be easily obtained from sites like Google Maps.) The real damage of these images comes from bolstering the perception of a long-term U.S. occupation. While Americans will be living in posh quarters, the citizens of Baghdad are currently surviving with just 5.6 hours of electricity a day. Baghdad was also recently rated the world’s worst city in which to live."

Bill O'Reilly on Mitt Romney: "He’s got the jaw going on, the little gray thing in there. And I think that means a lot in America."

Paris Hilton's prison cell revealed.

Researchers find traces of cocaine and pot in the air pollution of Rome: "The results found that in Rome, there were traces of cocaine and cannabis -- as well as nicotine, caffeine and benzopirene, which is commonly released in cigarette smoke and auto emissions."

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Posted by Andy in Bill O'Reilly, Football, Gay Pride, Great Britain, Iraq, John Travolta, Mitt Romney, Moscow, Music, News, Paris Hilton, Real Estate, Rome, Scotland, Sweden, Tammy Faye Messner | Permalink | Comments (9)

04/23/2007

Vatican Official Brands Gay Marriage "Evil"

The Vatican is really angry that Italy is considering giving rights to gays.

The latest in their litany of condemnations comes from Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who today slammed the media for what the Vatican perceives as abetting social advances it calls "terrorism with a human face":

"In an address to chaplains, Amato said newspapers and television bulletins often seemed like 'a perverse film about evil.' He denounced 'evils that remain almost invisible' because the media presented them as 'expression of human progress.' He listed these as abortion clinics, which he called 'slaughterhouses of human beings,' euthanasia, and 'parliaments of so-called civilized nations where laws contrary to the nature of the human being are being promulgated, such as the approval of marriage between people of the same sex ...'"

Amato's comments were a step beyond remarks made by Pope Benedict in mid-March that the church's position on gay marriage was "not negotiable."

More recently, Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa compared gay rights to incest and pedophilia. Shortly thereafter the cathedral in Genoa was tagged with graffiti declaring "Shame on you Bagnasco" and the archbishop was placed under police protection.

In March, thousands rallied near the Vatican in support of the Italian gay rights measure causing such a fuss at the Pope's address. A group opposing it is planning a major rally in Rome next month.

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Posted by Andy in Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Italy, News, Pope Benedict, Religion, Rome | Permalink | Comments (42)

04/16/2007

Rome Hosts AquaRomae, 1st International GLBT Swim Tournament

AquaRomae 2007, the first international GLBT swimming tournament, took place in Rome over the weekend. Here are some shots of the event, which took place in the Foro Italico, the site of the 1960 Olympic Games.

Gay Italy's answer to Esther Williams, the synchronized swim team "SyncDifferent" gave a splashy performance.

The event was not without its cheeky political statements. Italy's government is considering a measure that would give gays and lesbians a broad range of new rights and has recently seen a number of protests.

A few more shots after the jump...

>

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Posted by Andy in Gay Rights, Italy, News, Rome, Sports, Swimming | Permalink | Comments (5)

04/09/2007

Beckham and Caligula: Let Them Hate, So Long as They Fear

David Beckham sat out another Real Madrid game with an injured knee over the weekend, but it looks as if some other body parts have been getting attention. Beckham's tattoos are well-documented and, seated in the stands, the footballer revealed he's had some work done on his right forearm.

The tattoo (he has nine already) appears to be an extension of a scene with clouds and angels from his upper arm. Upon closer inspection and a bit of detective work (the words "let them" and "so long as" are visible) it looks like Becks has inscribed a quote attributed to the Roman emperor Caligula: "Let them hate, so long as they fear."

In other brand Beckham news, it appears that the BMW X5 that was stolen from him last year is now in service as a Spanish government limo. Considering he was handed a new car the next day it's doubtful he's worried about it.

One more shot of the pensive player, after the jump...

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Posted by Andy in David Beckham, Football, Grooming, News, Rome, Sports, Tattoo | Permalink | Comments (25)

03/12/2007

Thousands Oppose Vatican, Rally for Gay Rights in Rome

Tens of thousands gathered in Rome's Piazza Farnese over the weekend to rally in support of a measure that would give same-sex couples and heterosexual couples who are unmarried a broader set of rights:

"The proposal would grant hospital visitation, inheritance and other legal rights to unmarried couples who live together both in heterosexual and same-sex relationships. Some rights, such as hospital visiting, would be granted immediately, while couples would have to live together for several years to be eligible for inheritance and other rights."

In a crowd reported by the BBC as more than 50,000-strong, protestors waved rainbow flags and some wore bishop's mitres painted with anti-Vatican slogans. Said activist Alessandro Zan: "It's a demonstration to unite and not to divide, and it's the biggest rally ever held in Italy to demand a law on civil unions."

The Italian government has been seeing increased pressure from the Vatican to limit the rights. The draft bill was approved in February by Italy's cabinet but an ongoing battle in Parliament over the issues will make it a tougher sell there.

According to the AP: "Opponents of the measure, including pro-Vatican politicians, said they would organize a “family day” rally in coming weeks against the proposal. The issue has divided Premier Romano Prodi's coalition government, whose smaller partners include Christian Democrats and Communists. A Christian Democrat Cabinet minister refused to vote on the measure, while far-left members of the coalition, including Communists and Greens, have been vigorously campaigning for its passage."

Said Socialist Deputy Enrico Boselli: "I believe that this battle is part of a larger fight to bring about a secular state." (video)

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Posted by Andy in Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Italy, News, Rome | Permalink | Comments (2)

01/17/2007

Donatella Versace Gets Her 'Priest Chic' Direct from the Vatican

Donatella Versace says that Father "Gorgeous Georg" Gänswein, who serves as Pope Benedict's personal secretary, is the inspiration behind the "priest chic" look of Versace's fall collection, recently displayed on the runways in Milan. The press compares Gänswein, an amateur pilot, tennis instructor, and former ski instructor, to American movie stars because of his dashing looks, and some high-profile gay Italian TV stars claim that he is the Pope's boyfriend.

"I was certainly inspired by him. I find his austerity very elegant. It is the right moment to show an ethical and spiritual man, free from all those pointless details. I also like Gregorian garb," Versace told the Telegraph UK. She added that the "ideal man has biceps but 'looks for his inside quality and trains it up, the muscles of the soul.'"

Yes, the Pope wears Prada, but his companion is more a Versace kind of guy.

Gorgeous Georg's priestly chic inspires a new Versace show [telegraph uk]
Versace Fall 2007 Men's collection [style.com]

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Posted by Andy in Fashion Men, News, Pope Benedict, Religion, Rome, Versace | Permalink | Comments (9)

12/22/2006

Pope Attacks Gay Marriage in Christmas Address

Pope Benedict XVI, in a Christmas address to the Rome clergy, took the opportunity to slam both gay and unmarried couples. He warned that mankind would destroy its own identity should it follow theories which place same-sex couples at the same level as husband and wife, theories "according to which man should be able to decide autonomously what he is and what he isn't."

He added that supporting same-sex marriage "tacitly accredits those dismal theories that strip all relevance from the masculinity and femininity of the human being as though it were a purely biological issue."

The Pope defended his right to speak out about the relationships as tensions rise in the Italian parliament and between the Vatican and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who has pledged to fulfill a campaign promising civil partnership rights for both same-sex and unmarried couples. Said Benedict: "I cannot hide my concern about legislation on de facto couples...if they say the Church shouldn't interfere in these matters, then we can only reply: should mankind perhaps not interest us?"

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Posted by Andy in Gay Marriage, Italy, News, Pope Benedict, Rome | Permalink | Comments (33)

12/21/2006

Gay Barbie Nativity Raises Stink at Italian Parliament

Two Italian parliamentarians, Bruno Mellano and Donatella Poretti, raised a furor in Italy after they placed pairs of embracing Barbies and Kens next to a traditional Christian nativity scene in order to make a statement about gay marriage.

Several parliamentarians spoke out about the gesture. A statement from the opposition conservative Forza Italia party blasted the dolls: "This is a vulgar and unacceptable double attack against both a (national) institution as well as a religious symbol." A communist parliamentarian called it "a grave political error".

Pope Benedict also released a statement: "Has anyone seen my Barbies?"

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Posted by Andy in Gay Marriage, Italy, News, Pope Benedict, Rome | Permalink | Comments (2)

12/15/2006

James Purefoy on Gay Sex: Never Say Never

Fans of rugged Brit actor James Purefoy, who plays the metal-clad Marc Antony in Rome, has left things open regarding the types of sexual situations which appeal to him.

Page Six reports that the actor tells Out magazine in a cover story that he'll "never say never" when it comes to sex:

"Anyone who went to an English [private] school in the 1970s will have had some kind of a gay experience. You bang 500 adolescent hormonal boys together at exactly the time when they're exploring their sexuality, and don't be surprised if some shenanigan comes out of it."

Purefoy has already played the object of a gay man's lust on screen, in Rose Troche's 1998 film Bedrooms & Hallways...

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Posted by Andy in James Purefoy, News, Rome, Television | Permalink | Comments (57)

12/14/2006

Prayer, Porn, and Prada at the Vatican

The origin of the red Prada shoes is just one closely guarded secret surrounding the life of Pope Benedict XVI.

Others, having to do with Italians and their relationship with the church, their families, and the closet are addressed in an article by Michael Joseph Gross which appears in the new issue of Out. Gross takes a look at Rome's past and present gay history and its relationship with that Catholic city-within-a-city, the Vatican, described to him by an American expat as "one of the most homophobic institutions in the world and probably the most gay institution in the world, outside of gay nightclubs."

Here's a brief but amusing excerpt. One of the folks Gross interviewed for the piece was Italy’s most popular gay TV personality, Fabio Canino (not to be confused with Fabio Cannavaro), who described a colorful lunch date he'd had at the Vatican:

"Fabio Canino says he received a mysterious invitation a few years ago to lunch at the Vatican with a cardinal. 'I walked in,' he remembers, 'and I thought the person in front of me was a drag queen, not a cardinal.' He flings his arms up in imitation and cries out, lisping, 'Hel-lo, sweetie!' The prelate, he says, eagerly dished his Vatican colleagues, referring to one black cardinal as 'Naomi' (after Naomi Campbell). As Canino tells the story, he called the cardinal a hypocrite and asked how, as a gay man, he could serve this homophobic institution. The cardinal looked at him across the lavish table where they sat and said, 'I have everything here.'

Before Canino left, the cardinal—like a politician, or a parent—told him to get in touch if he ever needed help. Some time later, when Canino produced a play in Rome, the production was stuck without a rehearsal space. Canino says he called the cardinal in desperation and was immediately granted the use of a room in the Vatican. He says the cardinal also arranged for the Vatican printing office to produce, for free, the souvenir script that was sold at the play to raise money for a local AIDS foundation.

The title of the play? Making Porn."

And it isn't just those in the lower ranks rumored to be gay; whispered about by gay Romans almost as much as the red shoes is Pope Benedict's relationship with his "personal secretary" Monsignor Georg Gänswein. After reading the piece it doesn't surprise me at all that the Pope hired Italian "gay icon" Serra Yilmaz to act as his translator on his recent trip to Turkey. Religious icons and gay icons seem to mix in Rome fairly fluidly.

When in Rome [out]

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Posted by Andy in Fabio Canino, Italy, News, Pope Benedict, Religion, Rome | Permalink | Comments (37)

08/07/2006

Madonna : Changing the World One Arm Tango at a Time

When her Confessions tour began I brought you a series of photos of the very gay "arm tango" that occurs onstage during her performance of the track "Forbidden Love". The dance appeared to be a nod to her gay fans with an erotic style of choreographic courtship.

Recent photos of her tour which kicked off in Rome over the weekend show that Madonna has changed that part of the show, painting her dancers' bellies with the Crescent Moon and the Star of David to suggest a wish for harmony between Arabs and Israelis.

If you'll notice, the dancers have changed as well. The caucasian clones from her American tour have been replaced with dancers more ethnically appropriate to her message.

Prior to the show's opening in Rome, the Pope and other religious leaders criticized Madonna's mock crucifixion during the singer's performance of "Live to Tell". The Pope called it "blasphemous" and called for the singer's "ex-communication" from the church. Madonna responded by inviting him to her performance.

Cardinal Ersilio Tonini said, "To crucify yourself in the city of the Pope and the martyrs is an act of open hostility. It's a scandal created on purpose by astute merchants to attract publicity.''

We've heard it all before.

Madonna, who recently donated $3 million to help orphans in Malawi, has taken Rome by storm, yet her insistence on continuing to push the envelope on religious statements has husband Guy Ritchie worried she's making herself a kidnap target.

Previously
Madonna's Confessions tour: Forbidden Love [tr]
Madonna Confessions Tour: Crucified [tr]

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Posted by Andy in Italy, Madonna, Religion, Rome | Permalink | Comments (27)

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