Members of the LGBTIQ+ community in Italy are sharing photos of their families on social media after a conservative politician said 'rainbow families' - a common term for LGBTIQ+ families - "don't exist".
Lorenzo Fontana, Italy’s new Minister for Family and Disability, made the controversial comments during an interview with local newspaper Corriere della Sera, leading to photos and messages of support being shared under the hashtag #NoiEsistiamo, which translates to "we exist".
When asked about his stance on the LGBTIQ+ community, Fontana insisted that he wasn't homophobic and has nothing “against gays”.
“I have many homosexual friends… after all, I lived in Brussels for many years where there are many gay people in powerful positions," he said.
He continued, reflecting on his religious beliefs and support of the traditional family structure: “I am Catholic, I do not hide it. And that’s why I believe that the family is the natural one, where a child must have a mother and a father.”
When pressed by the interviewer about whether or not he would fight for the rights of children with same-sex parents, Fontana lost his cool.
"For heaven’s sake! There will never be any kind of discrimination towards children," he said.
He added: “Measures to support children will be extended to all children, indiscriminately and irrespective of their parents.”
Asked about his view on "rainbow families", he said: “Under the law, they don’t exist right now.”
Fontana, who is also anti-abortion, was appointed to his new role as part of the coalition between right-wing political party Lega Nord and Five Star Movement.
