Italy: Mayor attempting to ban all gay kissing

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

A Mayor has launched a proposal to  ban all public gay kissing in his town.

Gianluca Buonanno, an MP and MEP for the right-wing Northern League party, is also the mayor of the town of Borgosesia.

This week he has praised Vladimir Putin for his work cracking down on same-sex couples, and has pledged to do the same.

According to gay rights blog Agere per Formulas he said: “Gay kisses in public? No thanks. 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 could exchange public displays of affection.

“It’s a matter of respect. And I am convinced that is morally harmful for children.”

According to his proposals, gay people caught kissing in public could face a fine of €500, for ‘public displays of affection’.

Buonanno has a reputation for inane stunts, and was earlier this year expelled from Parliament for waving a sea bass.

MEP Daniele Viotti said: “This new decree is just the latest, pathetic publicity stunt by a narrow-minded man who desperately wants to be in the spotlight.

“Mr Buonanno is only able to give a voice to all the worst values that, unfortunately, are still circulating in Europe.

“As always, he 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.”

Watch the sea bass incident below: