Uncomfortable sharing locker
Italian center Fabio Cannavaro praised the quality of life in Spain, where he plays for the Real Madrid soccer squad, but criticized the legalization of same-sex marriage in his adopted country. "Spain is good, Zapatero has invested in the renovation of large cities," Cannavaro said in an interview with a Spanish magazine, referring to José Luis Rodriguez, the socialist prime minister, "although on gay marriage -- perhaps on this I am more Italian."
Cannavaro's words were like a bucket of cold water for Italian gays, according to media reports. "We feel bad for all theoe gay men who have always admired the neapolitan beauty of Cannavaro," Aurelio Marcus, president of the Association Arcigay. Cannavero has posed with fellow Italian soccer players in underwear advertisements for Dolce & Gabbana.
Cannavaro's comments also received a poor reception from Spanish LGBT organizations. "Cannavaro should be devoted to football and not kick the rights of sexual minorities," said Manuel Velandia, coordinator general of Decide-T, the LGBT Association of Alicante. "Rather than behave like an ambassador to the Vatican, he should be conscious of living in a country where sexual minorities enjoy full rights. ... Gays should express their discomfort with the Real Madrid player to the team itself and demand that he retract his words."
This isn't the first time that a gay theme tripped up Cannavaro. In May 2005, the soccer star who posed in underwear with teammates for D&G ranted against the possibility of sharing a locker room with a gay player.
"Living together with gay teammates can cause problems and provoke embarrassing situations," Cannavaro, then playing for the Italian team Juventus, told Vanity Fair. He also rejected his growing gay fan base. "I'm not happy about becoming an icon for the gay community," he said in the interview.
