Italian Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Gay Driving Suspension - East Idaho News
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Italian Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Gay Driving Suspension

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thinkstock 1.24.15 driving?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1422120667297JaysonPhotography/iStock/Thinkstock(ROME) — An Italian man is celebrating after winning a 14-year legal battle to get his permanent driver’s license back after officials revoked it because he was gay.

It all started when then 18-year-old Danilo Giuffrida underwent a medical exam for the military service and told the doctor he was gay. At the time, Italy’s military banned gay men, and the doctor, disbelieving Giuffrida, told him to go register at the local gay rights organization.

Giuffrida did, but the military sent his medical records to the transportation ministry advising they suspend his driver’s license because he was “troubled by his sexual identity” and lacked the “psycho-physical capacity to drive.”

It took the better part of 14 years, but Giuffrida now has a licence to drive and a major legal victory.

Italy’s highest court ruled on Thursday that the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Transportation exhibited clear homophobia against Giuffrida and will have to pay high damages.


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