(ANSA) - Rome, September 29 - Carabinieri police were on
Tuesday investigating claims that a 16-year-old boy was banned
from the classroom at a Catholic school in Monza because he was
gay.
The claims were made by the boy's father in an email to the
school principal and local press.
The man said his son had been made to sit in the corridor
for several weeks after a photograph featuring him with another
boy was posted to a social network.
Gay rights group Arcigay said Tuesday it was "disconcerted"
by the news and called on the ministry of education to
intervene.
"There is no catechism in Italy that is more valid than our
constitutional charter," a statement said.
Arcigay also pointed the finger at a proposed amendment to
the 1993 Mancino law on discrimination making it an offense to
instigate or commit discrimination or acts of violence on the
grounds of homophobia or transphobia.
Parliamentary debate on the measure in 2013 produced
"ambiguities" that effectively reinforced racism and homophobia
in Italy, the organisation said.
Arcigay therefore called on the Senate to schedule
discussion of the bill approved by the Lower House two years
ago, "eliminating the shortcuts and ambiguous formulas that make
discrimination and violence possible and even justifiable in our
country".
Boy, 16, banned from class 'for being gay'
'No catechism in Italy worth more than Constitution' - Arcigay