Donatella Versace praised for calling out Italian government’s LGBTQ+ stance

Gay rights groups laud fashion designer for speech in which she said ‘minority voices’ were under attack

Gay rights groups in Italy have praised Donatella Versace for speaking out against the government’s anti-gay policies in a heartfelt and personal speech while receiving a fashion award.

“Our government is trying to take away people’s rights to live as they wish,” Versace said in a speech on Sunday night, citing in particular a government policy that allows only the biological parent in same-sex couples to be officially recognised as the parent. “They are restricting our freedoms,” she said.