Italian Pop Star Hijacks Song Festival With Song In Support Of "Ex-Gay" Movement

As gay activists protested outside, wingnut Italian pop star Povia used the nationally televised Sanremo Song Festival to perform his song about an "ex-gay" who finds the love of a woman. Christianist outfit LifeSiteNews exults:

"Luca was Gay" recounts the liberation of a psychologically injured man from the homosexual lifestyle. "Luca", who is believed to be based on the Italian Luca di Tolvi, develops homosexual attractions after his father leaves and his mother treats him as a substitute, creating confusion about his sexual identity. Delivered as a "soft" rap song that alternates between a spoken and sung account, Povia becomes the mouthpiece for "Luca", who begins by saying: "Before I talk about the change in my sexuality, let me make something clear: If I believe in God, I can't depend on human beings for my answers. Human thought is divided on this issue, so I didn't look to psychologists, psychiatrists, clergymen, or scientists. My search took me into my own past, and when I dug down deep, I found answers to my questions about myself."

Luca's parents separate, and his father becomes an alcoholic. His mother becomes "obsessed" with him, "suffocates" him, and tells him "whatever you do, don't get married. She was jealous of my girlfriends; it felt so unhealthy. And I was more confused than ever about who I was," sings Povia, in Luca's name. Eventually Luca finds himself with homosexual attractions as he seeks the affirmation he never received from his father, while trying to avoid disappointing his mother with a female rival. He enters into sexual relationships with older men. "I was looking for my father in all those men. I went with them because I didn't want to betray my mother," Povia sings. He also alludes to the superficiality of homosexual relationships, having Luca say, "I was with a man for four years. Sometimes there was love and sometimes only deception. We cheated on each other constantly."

Oscar winning Italian actor/director Roberto Benigni opened the festival by condemning Povia, saying that homosexuality isn't a sin and that gays have been persecuted historically "because they love someone." Povia said he "didn't give a damn" about the protesters. The festival's artistic director defended the song as merely "telling a story." Aurelio Mancuso, the president of Italian gay rights group Arcigay, said, 'This song represents a wound for all gay people who are fighting against homophobia and ignorance in Italy. You don't change sexual orientation like a pair of shoes, it's rooted in our nature." Below is a clip of Povia's performance. Can somebody translate the sign unveiled on the stage at the end?