lonelywombat
October 30th, 2012, 13:55
gay man who shrugged off three mafia plots to kill him is poised to become Sicily's first homosexual governor
http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafi ... 28gaq.html (http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafia-campaigner-draws-on-gay-struggle-20121030-28gaq.html)
October 30, 2012 - 8:04AM
Tom Kington
ROME: A gay man who shrugged off three mafia plots to kill him is poised to become Sicily's first homosexual governor in elections that show the centre left advancing at the expense of Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing party.
Representing a coalition of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party and the Catholic UDC party, Rosario Crocetta is leading against the candidate of Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) and a contender representing the maverick movement of the comedian Beppe Grillo, who trailed in third place.
After leaving prison in England, Oscar Wilde took refuge in Palermo.
With more than 50 per cent of votes counted, Mr Crocetta had 30.88 per cent of the vote, ahead of the PDLтАЩs Sebastiano Musumeci with 24.90 per cent, robbing him of what was once the centre-rightтАЩs stronghold on the Mediterranean island.The outsider, the anti-politics Five Star Movement, surprised observers by garnering 18.46 per cent amid rising sentiment against the established parties and anger over rampant corruption, particularly in the Mafia stronghold.
тАШтАШItтАЩs the first time that a candidate for the left is elected as regional governor, itтАЩs the first time that an anti-Mafia candidate wins,тАЩтАЩ declared a victorious Mr Crocetta, 61. тАШтАШToday is more than an election result, it is a date with history.тАЩтАЩ
Mr Crocetta, a devoted Catholic, has long claimed that southern Italy is surprisingly relaxed about gay politicians, once stating, "There is a great respect for the individual, making it less homophobic than the north."
In August he told an interviewer, "After leaving prison in England, Oscar Wilde took refuge in Palermo. Seen like this, there is lot people have to learn about the south."
As mayor of Gela, Mr Crocetta persuaded local businesses not to pay protection money to the mafia and claimed that coming out gave him a sense of liberation that allowed him to understand how suffocated Sicily had become under the mafia's yoke.
One mob boss who hired a Lithuanian assassin for a failed bid to kill Mr Crocetta was less tolerant of his sexuality than voters, describing him in a wiretapped call as "this queer communist".
A local magistrate said at the time: "The clans may ridicule Crocetta's sexuality, but it's the backing he gave businesses that refuse to pay the pizzo [protection payment] that really drove them mad."
Mr Crocetta has suggested that a surprising number of members of Cosa Nostra are themselves gay, claiming, "The idea that the mafia is all church, home and shotguns makes me laugh."
A Palermo magistrate, Antonio Ingroia, has said he believes there are a number of gay bosses, but "it remains a taboo since they are scared of being ejected from the mob".
Guardian News & Media
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafi ... z2AlLdGaHk (http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafia-campaigner-draws-on-gay-struggle-20121030-28gaq.html#ixzz2AlLdGaHk)
http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafi ... 28gaq.html (http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafia-campaigner-draws-on-gay-struggle-20121030-28gaq.html)
October 30, 2012 - 8:04AM
Tom Kington
ROME: A gay man who shrugged off three mafia plots to kill him is poised to become Sicily's first homosexual governor in elections that show the centre left advancing at the expense of Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing party.
Representing a coalition of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party and the Catholic UDC party, Rosario Crocetta is leading against the candidate of Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) and a contender representing the maverick movement of the comedian Beppe Grillo, who trailed in third place.
After leaving prison in England, Oscar Wilde took refuge in Palermo.
With more than 50 per cent of votes counted, Mr Crocetta had 30.88 per cent of the vote, ahead of the PDLтАЩs Sebastiano Musumeci with 24.90 per cent, robbing him of what was once the centre-rightтАЩs stronghold on the Mediterranean island.The outsider, the anti-politics Five Star Movement, surprised observers by garnering 18.46 per cent amid rising sentiment against the established parties and anger over rampant corruption, particularly in the Mafia stronghold.
тАШтАШItтАЩs the first time that a candidate for the left is elected as regional governor, itтАЩs the first time that an anti-Mafia candidate wins,тАЩтАЩ declared a victorious Mr Crocetta, 61. тАШтАШToday is more than an election result, it is a date with history.тАЩтАЩ
Mr Crocetta, a devoted Catholic, has long claimed that southern Italy is surprisingly relaxed about gay politicians, once stating, "There is a great respect for the individual, making it less homophobic than the north."
In August he told an interviewer, "After leaving prison in England, Oscar Wilde took refuge in Palermo. Seen like this, there is lot people have to learn about the south."
As mayor of Gela, Mr Crocetta persuaded local businesses not to pay protection money to the mafia and claimed that coming out gave him a sense of liberation that allowed him to understand how suffocated Sicily had become under the mafia's yoke.
One mob boss who hired a Lithuanian assassin for a failed bid to kill Mr Crocetta was less tolerant of his sexuality than voters, describing him in a wiretapped call as "this queer communist".
A local magistrate said at the time: "The clans may ridicule Crocetta's sexuality, but it's the backing he gave businesses that refuse to pay the pizzo [protection payment] that really drove them mad."
Mr Crocetta has suggested that a surprising number of members of Cosa Nostra are themselves gay, claiming, "The idea that the mafia is all church, home and shotguns makes me laugh."
A Palermo magistrate, Antonio Ingroia, has said he believes there are a number of gay bosses, but "it remains a taboo since they are scared of being ejected from the mob".
Guardian News & Media
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafi ... z2AlLdGaHk (http://www.theage.com.au/world/antimafia-campaigner-draws-on-gay-struggle-20121030-28gaq.html#ixzz2AlLdGaHk)