Borgosesia, Italy Mayor Gianluca
Buonanno on Wednesday said he would impose fines of up to 500 Euros
for public kisses between members of the same sex.
Buonanno, a politician with the right
wing Northern League Party, said he was offended at seeing gay kisses
in public and announced he would hang photos in his offices of
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has led an anti-gay crackdown
in Russia.
“Gay kisses in public? No thanks,”
he said. “From today in my mayor and MEP offices there will be a
photo of Putin.”
“I don't like that two people of the
same-sex exchange public displays of affection. It's a matter of
respect. And I am convinced that it is morally harmful to children,”
he added, according to the blog Agere
per Formulas.
Daniel Viotti, a member of the European
Parliament (Italy), said
in response: “As always, [Buonanno] is focusing his political
frustrations on citizens who are more vulnerable to discrimination,
in this case LGBTI people. It would be an interesting psychological
exercise to ask why Mr. Buonanno is so obsessed with homosexuality.”