What do you think about: Homosexuals get their own street in Rome?
ROME – Rome marked the opening of its first "Gay Street" Friday with flags, banners and protests amid a row over a homosexual couple who claimed they were detained by police for kissing in front of the nearby Colosseum..
The two men were detained briefly last week for what the police said were lewd acts in public — a crime that can carry a sentence of up to two years in jail.
Campaigners welcomed a 300-meter (328-yard) zone in the center of the city — filled with shops and bars — as an area where gays can "feel at ease," after days of heated debate in predominantly Roman Catholic Italy over the kissing incident.
Thoughts?
13 Responses
Banana-Pig
31 Aug 2010
Vicarious Cynic
31 Aug 2010
At ease, huh. Well, its a start.
t_rex_is_mad
31 Aug 2010
Many large cities have Gayborhoods.
I;d like to know, though, if straight people get detained and face jail time it they kiss in public.
Universal Pants
31 Aug 2010
Why can’t they just be safe wherever they go?
atheist
31 Aug 2010
I think that Rome can do whatever it wants without American fundies getting their panties in a twist over it. It is in ROME; who cares?
RrN91
31 Aug 2010
I can guarantee you that a man and woman kissing in the same spot would not be arrested for ‘lewd acts’.
I hope that one day the world is a better place for the LGBT community.
Run James Run
31 Aug 2010
A.) Don’t arrest people for kissing. We don’t live in Nazi times or Iran.
B.) Let Italy decide what’s best for Italy.
C.) I’ve been to enough religious festivals (ususally for Italian saints, or Saint Patrick’s Day) that took over the whole street, so if it’s OK for religiuos festivals, it’s OK for gay people, too.
information_poli
31 Aug 2010
I wonder if the Romans appreciate the irony in this situation.
Because Italy is an extremely Christian country, a gay couple was arrested for kissing in front of the Coliseum, where early Christians were put to death for the amusement of the Romans.
magpieix
31 Aug 2010
They shouldn’t have to create "gay ghettoes" to solve the problem. Just apply the existing laws fairly to gay AND straight couples and there should be no problem.
OmnisArs
31 Aug 2010
I’m ok with it, because I believe in "live and let live."
I presume you’re not ok with it. Are you thinking of going there and throwing rocks?
If you’re a Christian, please remember that Christ said nothing about gay folks. If you’re using the writings of that nutjob Leviticus, then I hope you’re also thinking ill of people who wear red clothing. Oy vey…..
By the way, I’m gay. I don’t want a street, thank you, but equal rights would be nice. I have to pay taxes like everyone else, but I’m precluded from certain liberties and rights. Imagine if you were forced to pay the same admission price to Disneyland, but then prevented from riding the Matterhorn and Pirates of the Caribbean. If we don’t have equal rights, we should pay lower taxes. Simple as that.
Morganika
31 Aug 2010
i wont give my thoughts on this… just not my cup of tea i suppose.
Universalist Guy
31 Aug 2010
I think it’s a good thing. Most people don’t want to see gay people kissing, especially Catholics. It’s good for them to be somewhat segregated, at least until everybody else’s attitude changes.
HarryTikos
31 Aug 2010
I think it is a proper reaction to the stupidity of arresting a gay couple for kissing.
they invented it though didn’t they….not that theres anything wrong with that.
LOL gaybourhoods.