Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made a rare public statement Sunday indicating his support of LGBT rights, according to Italian media reports.
“The [fight] for civil rights for homosexuals is a fight that in a truly modern and democratic country should be everyone’s responsibility,” Berlusconi said, reports La Repubblica.
“As a liberal, I believe that through a broad and in-depth debate we can reach a reasonable objective for justice and civilization.”
Berlusconi, 77, made the remarks the day after a number of LGBT pride marches were held across Italy, which saw tens of thousands of Italians take to the streets in support of gay rights.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
The remarks also came hours after his girlfriend Francesca Pascale and Vittorio Feltri, a journalist at Il Giornale, a newspaper owned by the Berlusconi family, signed up to Italy’s main gay rights organization Arcigay, reports The Local.
Berlusconi has a history of anti-gay gaffes, including in 2010 when he was quoted as saying “my passion for women is better than being gay” as he fought of allegations of sex parties.
