[Ammi]

Gay rights activists in Italy have launched a boycott of the world's leading pasta maker after its chairman said he would only portray the "classic family" in his advertisements and, if people objected to that, they should feel free to eat a different kind of pasta.

Guido Barilla, who controls the fourth-generation Barilla Group family business with his two brothers, sparked outrage among activists, consumers and some politicians when he said he would not consider using a gay family to advertise Barilla pasta.

"For us the concept of the sacred family remains one of the basic values of the company," he told Italian radio on Wednesday evening. "I would not do it but not out of a lack of respect for homosexuals who have the right to do what they want without bothering others … [but] I don't see things like they do and I think the family that we speak to is a classic family."

Asked what effect he thought his attitude would have on gay consumers of pasta, Barilla said: "Well, if they like our pasta and our message they will eat it; if they don't like it and they don't like what we say they will … eat another."

In response, Aurelio Mancuso, chairman of Equality Italia, accused Barilla of being deliberately provocative. "Accepting the invitation of Barilla's owner to not eat his pasta, we are launching a boycott campaign against all his products," he added.

Within hours, the hashtag 'boicotta-barilla' was trending on Twitter. The Barilla chairman issued a statement saying that he was sorry if his remarks had caused offence and that he had only been trying to draw attention to the "central role" played by women within the family.

"I apologise if my words generated misunderstandings or arguments, or if they offended the sensibilities of some people," he said.

The interview started by asking Barilla what he thought of an appeal made on Tuesday by the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Laura Boldrini, to change the often stereotypical image of women in Italian advertisements.

"There are some adverts … which, when I see them, I think, 'but would this advert be broadcast in other countries? In the United Kingdom would this advert be broadcast?" said Boldrini. "And the answer is certainly not. An advert in which the children and father are all sitting down and the mother is serving at the table cannot be accepted as normal."

Barilla responded by saying Boldrini did not understand the advertising world and women were fundamental to adverts.

He went on to discuss gay rights, saying that he "respected everyone" and was in favour of gay marriage, but against gay adoption.

The remarks provoked anger among many of the politicians who are trying to pass legislation against homophobic crimes.

The country, on whose politics the Catholic church has long exerted a conservative influence, lags behind many other European countries on gay rights. Far from moving towards the legalisation of gay marriage, Italy still does not recognise same-sex civil unions.

Alessandro Zen, an MP for the opposition Left Ecology Freedom party, said: "Here is another example of Italian homophobia. I am taking part in the [Barilla] boycott and invite other MPs – at least those who are not resigning – to do the same."

[thesheriff443]

might start up the gay pasta company in response to this!, not

[arista]

"Here is another example of Italian homophobia"



Of Course its a Nation under the Strict Church.

[Ammi]

'He went on to discuss gay rights, saying that he "respected everyone" and was in favour of gay marriage, but against gay adoption'


..let's respect 'them' but please don't let 'them' take our children...

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Ammi

'He went on to discuss gay rights, saying that he "respected everyone" and was in favour of gay marriage, but against gay adoption'


..let's respect 'them' but please don't let 'them' take our children...

he is entitled to his opinion.

[Cherie]

It is his company he can do what he wants, no shareholders to appease. I can't think of any advert that shows a family with gay parents at any rate, so they are not exactly common place.

[Marc]

Gays eat pasta

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Marc

Gays eat pasta

they do marc, so be careful there could be one on the other end of your spaghetti

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Marc

Gays eat pasta

Yes of course, it is a bit of a Ratner moment, but it is his Company so he has to manage any loss in profits nobody else.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

they do marc, so be careful there could be one on the other end of your spaghetti

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Yes of course, it is a bit of a Ratner moment, but it is his Company so he has to manage any loss in profits nobody else.

don't think it will be as bad as ratners, Italians love their food to much!

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

don't think it will be as bad as ratners, Italians love their food to much!

No I don't think so either, just likening it to that sort of comment. I quite like his no **** attitude.


sked what effect he thought his attitude would have on gay consumers of pasta, Barilla said: "Well, if they like our pasta and our message they will eat it; if they don't like it and they don't like what we say they will … eat another."

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Cherie

No I don't think so either, just likening it to that sort of comment.

yea, the crap comment went down worse than I have slept with your mother

[Toy Soldier]

How utterly ridiculous! Clearly, no self respecting homosexual eats carbs...

[Vanessa]

Italy is a catholic country, that's why many are against gay marriage.

[Nedusa]

What a lot of fuss about nothing, if this company want to portray a "classic" family then that's their business. If people don't like it then don't buy the Pasta.

This is another slightly worrying example of not being able to say anything which could be even remotely construed as anti-gay. It's as if we are not even allowed to have an opinion on this subject.

But in a very traditional highly Catholic country millions of Italians do have an opinion and it probably falls more along the traditional Church doctrine of Man + Women + Children = Family

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

What a lot of fuss about nothing, if this company want to portray a "classic" family then that's their business. If people don't like it then don't buy the Pasta.

This is another slightly worrying example of not being able to say anything which could be even remotely construed as anti-gay. It's as if we are not even allowed to have an opinion on this subject.

But in a very traditional highly Catholic country millions of Italians do have an opinion and it probably falls more along the traditional Church doctrine of Man + Women + Children = Family

Exactly.

[Kyle]

All aboard the offended train.

Whoo whooooo

[Vanessa]

I love the pasta. Its the best one. The most popular in Italy.

[Kizzy]

I think they would be surprised considering us to be so 'enlightened', seen the morrybobs ad for ready meals where the 50's stylee housewife 'pretends' to cook a stew?...

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Marc

Gays eat pasta

We do not!

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

This is another slightly worrying example of not being able to say anything which could be even remotely construed as anti-gay.

How galling that must be