Victory for Italian gay man! - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Mirko · 13th Jul 2008, 01:10 AM

Came across this story. A victory for civil rights indeed!

Italian wins gay driving ban case

An Italian court has ordered the government to pay 100,000 euros (£79,919) to a man who had to retake his driving test because he was gay.

Danilo Giuffrida, now 26, told doctors he was homosexual during a medical examination for military service.

The information was passed to the defence and transport ministries.

Mr Giuffrida was told to repeat his driving test or have his licence suspended because of his "sexual identity disturbance".

Mr Giuffrida passed his test for the second time but his licence was renewed for just one year rather than the usual 10 years because of his homosexuality.

A court in Catania, Sicily, ordered the ministries to pay damages on the basis that Mr Giuffrida's constitutional rights had been breached and that homosexuality could not be considered a "mental illness".

The judge said the actions of the ministries showed "evident sexual discrimination".

Mr Giuffrida welcomed the sentence as "a step forwards for civil rights."

(Source: BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7503861.stm)

revolutionrock · 13th Jul 2008, 01:14 AM

That's great!

The horrible thing is that there could be so many others... how many people would fight something like this? or even notice?

Here in AZ, licenses don't expire until you're 65. I don't think I've ever actually checked the expiration on mine. So I doubt I would have noticed at all, had I been expecting an expiration date 10 years down the road.

Good on him!

And I always thought Italy was super-liberal. But then, the PM did endorse McCain...

Jard · 13th Jul 2008, 01:14 AM

What the hell does being gay have anything to do with driving? o.O

Whatever, at least he got it settles. A step forward indeed.

13th Jul 2008, 01:16 AM

i like the nice stores

Negasta · 13th Jul 2008, 04:11 AM

Italy is the most conservative nation in Western Europe, but what do you expect with it being the HQ of Pedophiles "R" Us (The Catholic Church).

Psychedelic Bookmarks · 13th Jul 2008, 04:45 AM

I find that incredibly shocking. How backward is that? I knew Italy was bad but I didn't think it was that conservative. Wow, we have a long way to go.

13th Jul 2008, 07:45 AM

Gay people can't drive straght thats why we are dangers on the road!

RobbIsFlyyy · 13th Jul 2008, 08:45 PM

Damn Italians.
Thats awful that they'd do that to someone.

Congratulations!
:]
It's a big step for Civil Rights.

Hepcat · 14th Jul 2008, 04:45 AM

What a strange case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Hade

Gay people can't drive straght thats why we are dangers on the road!

14th Jul 2008, 05:57 AM

I saw this story in the paper today, really bizarre. Does Italy allow 'gay marriages' these days? They're obliged to, under their human rights obligations.

beckyg · 14th Jul 2008, 06:08 AM

Wow, I've never heard of something like that happening before.

heatqueen · 14th Jul 2008, 06:19 AM

Good on the Italian dude!!

Can't drive straight, Master Hade? That one made me LOL!!

14th Jul 2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

but what do you expect with it being the HQ of Pedophiles "R" Us (The Catholic Church).

Stereotypes

In a brighter note, I do find this story very weird and bizarre. O.O

13th Jul 2008, 01:10 AM	#1
Mirko Molitva Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out and about Location: British Columbia, Canada Age: 35 Posts: 10,052 Join Date: Apr 2008	Victory for Italian gay man! Came across this story. A victory for civil rights indeed! Italian wins gay driving ban case An Italian court has ordered the government to pay 100,000 euros (£79,919) to a man who had to retake his driving test because he was gay. Danilo Giuffrida, now 26, told doctors he was homosexual during a medical examination for military service. The information was passed to the defence and transport ministries. Mr Giuffrida was told to repeat his driving test or have his licence suspended because of his "sexual identity disturbance". Mr Giuffrida passed his test for the second time but his licence was renewed for just one year rather than the usual 10 years because of his homosexuality. A court in Catania, Sicily, ordered the ministries to pay damages on the basis that Mr Giuffrida's constitutional rights had been breached and that homosexuality could not be considered a "mental illness". The judge said the actions of the ministries showed "evident sexual discrimination". Mr Giuffrida welcomed the sentence as "a step forwards for civil rights." (Source: BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7503861.stm) __________________ ~ Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are ~

13th Jul 2008, 01:14 AM	#2
revolutionrock Diggin' the obviousness. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Arizona Age: 21 Posts: 246 Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! That's great! The horrible thing is that there could be so many others... how many people would fight something like this? or even notice? Here in AZ, licenses don't expire until you're 65. I don't think I've ever actually checked the expiration on mine. So I doubt I would have noticed at all, had I been expecting an expiration date 10 years down the road. Good on him! And I always thought Italy was super-liberal. But then, the PM did endorse McCain...

13th Jul 2008, 01:14 AM	#3
Jard Well Known Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: My Interested In on FB says Men Location: Florida Age: 18 Posts: 202 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! What the hell does being gay have anything to do with driving? o.O Whatever, at least he got it settles. A step forward indeed.

13th Jul 2008, 01:16 AM	#4
Leigh Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! i like the nice stores

13th Jul 2008, 04:11 AM	#5
Negasta Resident Atheist Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: 5 Friends and my mom Location: Pretoria, South Africa Age: 26 Posts: 1,240 Join Date: Aug 2006	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! Italy is the most conservative nation in Western Europe, but what do you expect with it being the HQ of Pedophiles "R" Us (The Catholic Church). __________________ Mankind shall not be free until the last king is strangled in the entrails of the last priest. -- Denis Diderot, Dithyrambe Sur La Fête Des Rois

13th Jul 2008, 04:45 AM	#6
Psychedelic Bookmarks Helena Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Close family and quite a few friends Location: UK Age: 18 Posts: 2,195 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! I find that incredibly shocking. How backward is that? I knew Italy was bad but I didn't think it was that conservative. Wow, we have a long way to go. __________________ "I refuse to recognize the terms hetero-, bi-, and homo-sexual. Everybody has exactly the same sexual needs. People are just sexual, the prefix is immaterial." (Morissey)

13th Jul 2008, 07:45 AM	#7
Master Hade Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! Gay people can't drive straght thats why we are dangers on the road!

13th Jul 2008, 08:45 PM	#8
RobbIsFlyyy EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: 10 people. Location: Kentucky. Age: 20 Posts: 309 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! Damn Italians. Thats awful that they'd do that to someone. Congratulations! :] It's a big step for Civil Rights. __________________ Peace&Love, -Robb.

14th Jul 2008, 05:57 AM	#10
Adrian Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! I saw this story in the paper today, really bizarre. Does Italy allow 'gay marriages' these days? They're obliged to, under their human rights obligations.

14th Jul 2008, 06:08 AM	#11
beckyg PFLAG Mom Community Liaison Gender: Female Orientation: Straight Out Status: Out to everyone/Yes, parents come out too! Location: Middle of Oregon Age: 50 Posts: 7,572 Join Date: Mar 2007	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! Wow, I've never heard of something like that happening before. __________________ "When we're free to love anyone we choose, When this worlds big enough for all different views, When we're all free to worship from our own kind of pew, Then we shall be free" ~ Garth Brooks

14th Jul 2008, 06:19 AM	#12
heatqueen Official #1 fan of Celine Dion Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Pansexual/Homoromantic bisexual Out Status: Generally whoever asks Location: I travel a lot Age: 20 Posts: 5,703 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Victory for Italian gay man! Good on the Italian dude!! Can't drive straight, Master Hade? That one made me LOL!! __________________ Don't drink and drive. You might hit a bump and spill your drink. Co-founder of the 'Sailor Moon Made Me Gay' club...and the lesbians.

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