Italy's Michaela Biancofiore resigns over 'homophobia'

                              

A junior equal opportunities minister has resigned the day after being sworn in to Italy's new coalition, having said gay people invited discrimination by "ghettoising" themselves.

Michaela Biancofiore was defending herself against accusations of homophobia made by human rights groups.

But she invoked more wrath with Saturday's comments to Italian media.


The sacking is an upset for Prime Minister Enrico Letta's one week old left-right coalition, analysts say.
On Friday, Mr Letta, the Democratic Party deputy leader (PD), warned ministers in the fledgling government to work together and maintain "sobriety" when talking to the media.