Italians tuning in to their state TV network this week had a rare chance to see Brokeback Mountain, the tale of true friendship between two straight cowboys.
At least that was the version of Ang Lee’s gay cowboy Oscar-winner that was broadcast by channel Rai Due: two love scenes between the male protagonists had been excised, cuts which provoked furious accusations from gay-rights groups of censorship driven by creeping homophobia in Italy.

“The need to change a film about homosexual love into a film about simple male friendship says a lot about the current cultural climate,” said Franco Grillini, president of Gaynet.

La Repubblica noted that the cuts – involving a kiss between actors Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and a love scene in a tent – came days after the Vatican attacked a European Union proposal that the United Nations formally condemn discrimination against gays.

But Rai yesterday claimed the cuts were an honest mistake and promised to broadcast the full version of the 2005 film. “Since it went out after the watershed we could have shown the full version but did not have the copy,” said Rai director general Claudio Cappon. The copy broadcast, Rai said, had been supplied by a distributor for use before the watershed.

Opposition senator Luigi Vimercati called the explanation “embarrassing” and said he would demand a parliamentary inquiry.

Critics noted that while the gay love scenes were removed, censors left a heterosexual sex scene in Monday night’s version. “Evidently it is not sex which creates fear and pain, but the feelings between two men,” said Grillini.

See Italian TV Transforms Brokeback Mountain into a straight tale of friendship

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James Franco Surprised By Sean Penn Gay Love Scene In ‘Milk’

James Franco’s kiss with Sean Penn in Harvey Milk biopic Milk left him feeling uncomfortable – because his co-star wanted to act out a full-on love scene.

Franco, who plays San Francisco

politician Milk’s gay lover Scott Smith in the Gus Van Sant film, knew he’d have to pucker-up with Penn – but was shocked when the director told him the Colors actor wanted to take it further.

See James Franco Surprised By Sean Penn Gay Love Scene In ‘Milk’
Post Chronicle

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Shortland St gay love scene ruled indecent

A complaint about a gay love scene on popular local soap Shortland Street has been upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The contentious episode featured asexual receptionist Gerald in a sexual encounter with male friend Lindsay. They were undressing and kissing.

Gerald was wearing his underwear, while Lindsay was topless but wore pants.

The Authority described the scene in a statement issued this morning: “The two characters were shown lying in bed talking, covered up to their bare chests by blankets. Lindsay went under the blankets and Gerald nervously asked him ‘where are you going?’.

“Lindsay popped his head back up and replied ‘it’s a surprise’ before descending back under but came back up when a ticklish Gerald began giggling.

See Shortland St gay love scene ruled indecent
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand -