Italy Considers Anti-Homophobia Bill

The lower chamber of Italy's national legislature is set to consider a bill that would make homophobic acts a criminal offense.  

The bill was approved Monday by a parliamentary commission that included the votes of Prime Minister Enrico Letta's center-left Democratic Party, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party and the left-wing SEL party, ANSA reported. Critics of the bill -- including many Catholics in Berlusconi's party -- said the bill, if passed, would put too many restrictions on freedom of speech and opinion. The bill could be blocked by a series of amendments, ANSA said. Some senior People of Freedom Party members suggested a moratorium on legislation on ethical issues, like the homophobia bill.

News reports do not make it clear what the definition of a homophobic act might be. Italy presently has no hate crimes law or anti-gay discrimination protections.