A bathroom sign showing men's, women's and gay restrooms at an Italian hotel sparked uproar in the nation recently rated 32 out of 49 countries for LGBT rights by Rainbow Europe.
According to “Fatto Quotidiano,” an Italian daily newspaper, the sign appeared in the Tenuta Le Camporelle of Cavallino and was reported by the Associazione LeA (Liberamente e Apertamente), an LGBT rights group.
The owner of the hotel, however, said that the sign is rather old and that it was covered previously, but someone removed the covering, which is when the outrage began.
An Italian news website “The Local” said that the owner also claimed the “gay” sign would be painted over.
In response to the sign, LeA released the following statement, “The Local “reported:
“It is frankly shocking that in 2017 there are still cases of this kind, where there is a great confusion between gender identity and sexual orientation and it is flaunted by communications in such a misleading and homophobic manner in public places, which only humiliates and hurts people.”
The outrage comes just days after a same-sex couple was reportedly intimidated by a life guard after hugging in a pool in Caserta, Italy, “The Local” also reported.
Rainbow Europe, funded by the European Union and created by the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association, in May ranked Italy 32nd among 49 European countries in terms of LGBT rights and recognitions.
