Italy’s far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni rejected criticism from her Canadian counterpart at the G7 Summit about her government’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
A reporter asked Meloni about the criticism at a news conference early Sunday (May 21) in Hiroshima, Japan, which is hosting the annual summit of leaders from seven of the world’s leading industrialized nations.
On television Friday, Prime Minister Trudeau told Meloni — right before they began private, bilateral talks during the summit — that “Canada is concerned about some of the positions Italy is taking on in terms of LGBT rights.” He added that he was looking forward to talking with the Italian premier about that.
RELATED: ‘Listen to us’: LGBTQ activists seek help, prudence in raising human rights abroad
Meloni looked annoyed, twiddled her thumbs and listened in silence, while Trudeau switched to French to sum up his English remarks. Then camera operators left the room, and the two leaders commenced their close-door talks.
Earlier this year, Meloni’s government told city halls to stop automatically registering both parents in same-sex couples but instead to limit recognition of parental lights only to the biological parent of the child. Gay rights activists held rallies to denounce the move, calling it homophobic.
Asked about Trudeau’s remark, Meloni said that he had fallen “victim” to “fake news” and propaganda, and even said that that his assessment “doesn’t correspond to reality.”
The Associated Press
READ MORE: Biden aims to reassure world on US debt standoff as he consults with Indo-Pacific leaders
READ MORE: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives in Hiroshima for G7 summit as world leaders sanction Russia
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
