October 31, 200619 yr By ALESSANDRA RIZZO ROME - The question of whether Italy's first transvestite lawmaker should be allowed to use the ladies' room in parliament has triggered a full-blown debate among politicians. The controversy began when a female lawmaker found transvestite Vladimir Luxuria in one of the restrooms in the lower house of parliament late last week. "I was traumatized," said Elisabetta Gardini, a former actress and now the spokeswoman for Silvio Berlusconi's conservative Forza Italia party. "It was violence, sexual violence." Luxuria wears women's clothes and is a self-described "transgender" lawmaker, though no sex-change operation has been performed. Luxuria was elected as a Communist party representative in the center-left coalition that won April elections. The topic has become the target of political cartoons and sarcastic comments. But it was also seen as potentially damaging for an institution whose credibility has come under fire recently. "Already this parliament is like a Barnum circus, it has been ridiculed," said Giorgia Meloni, a member of the right-wing National Alliance party and the deputy speaker of the lower house. "Let's not open a debate over where Luxuria (goes to bathroom) ... It doesn't seem very important," she said. But it was too late. Friday afternoon's incident was taken up at a meeting of parliament whips originally scheduled to discuss the budget's passage in parliament. It drew comments from high-ranking officials, including the house speaker, Fausto Bertinotti, who appealed for tolerance. Bertinotti is a leading member of Luxuria's party. Some expressed solidarity with Luxuria, saying the lawmaker's dignity had been attacked and condemned Gardini's comment as "homophobic." Others said Gardini was right to raise the problem, and a special bathroom should be designated for Luxuria's use. "Let's do one single space for everybody, with no distinctions of gender," was another proposal, floated by centrist leader Bruno Tabacci. Luxuria was surprised that the topic caused such a fuss, and took Gardini to task. "I could not have imagined so much screaming for something like this," Luxuria was quoted as saying by the Corriere della Sera newspaper. "Evidently, you're born a woman, but you become a lady." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_on_...stroom_politics Another busy day for italian politicians...
October 31, 200619 yr We had a similar issue here in America with Janet Reno. dont forget condy rice... actually im not even sure she is human
November 1, 200619 yr Ok, so this individual is a transvestite, not even a transsexual. This individual should use the men's restroom. You have a penis, you use the men's restroom, that's final.
November 1, 200619 yr They should change the names on the doors of restrooms. "People with johnsons" "People with boxes" And make that final.
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