Donatella Versace slams Italian government's anti-gay policies from La Scala stage

MILAN (AP) — Donatella Versace slammed the Italian government for what she described as anti-gay policies in a heartfelt and personal speech that referenced her late brother, Gianni Versace, while receiving a fashion award this weekend.

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

“We must all fight for freedom, in a time that still sees trans people suffering terrible violence, a time when children of same-sex couples are not considered their children, a time when minority voices are attacked by new laws,'' Versace said.

The speech received a standing ovation from a fashion crowd at La Scala, where Versace received a humanitarian award.