The grandson of
the late Italian artist Mario Sironi says he will not
donate his grandfather's archive of drawings to the city of
Milan because its mayor has refused a
request that the city host a gay and lesbian film
festival. Nearly 5,000 of Sironi's works are available,
according to Bloomberg News. "Italy is taking steps
backward while other parts of Europe are advancing,"
Andrea Sironi said in the article. "Italy is
antiquated with its moralism."
The city's
aldermen, however, are likely to present 20,000 euros to the
21st International Festival of Gay and Lesbian Cinema in
order to lure it to the city.
Mayor Letizia
Moratti was elected in 2006 under Italy's center-right
party. Last year she withdrew Milan's sponsorship of an
annual gay tennis tournament. If she were willing to
present a more pro-gay stance, Sironi says,
he would consider donating the art.
"I'm not
stubborn," he told Bloomberg. "If she goes back on her
decision, I don't see why I can't change my mind." (The
Advocate)