ROME, Italy — The rainbow-themed Christmas lights that were illuminated Friday on Rome’s main shopping street have sparked controversy in the Italian capital city.
Battaglia, who also leads a gay rights campaign group, said the lights were intended to be against homophobia following the suicide of a gay teenager in the city.
But the right-wing Fratelli d’Italia (Italian Brothers) party has labelled the decision “provocative and ideological,” and is demanding the lights to be replaced with ones showing the three colors of the Italian flag, red, white and green.
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The head of the company behind the installation, Laura Rossi International, has sought to defuse controversy, saying the lights would now be dedicated to the late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
“This way the message of love, tolerance, unity and sharing will become stronger,” said company leader, Laura Rossi.
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