Rome opens first 'Gay Street'

The Italian gay community were celebrating on a cobbled street in Rome this week, after a decree by the city council marked it as the city's first 'Gay Street.'

The 300 metre zone in the centre of the city, which is populated with shops, restaurants and bars, has been designated as a 'gay-friendly' area where homosexual people can 'feel at ease'.

Leading up to the Colosseum, the route will be closed to traffic from 9pm to 2am from Thursday to Sunday to allow for crowds outside the bars and restaurants, as well as the occasional street party.

Fabrizio Marrazzo, leader of Italy's Arcigay gay rights movement, told news sources: 'This will be an area where people can feel at ease and it is also meant to be a bridge between the citizens and the homosexual community.

'We hope this will become a contact point for us to make our differences known to others and create a climate for peaceful coexistence.'

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