Gay rights activists will march past the Colosseum in Rome today, concluding a controversial eight-day World Gay Pride 2000 festival that has been opposed by both senior Catholic Church figures and by right-wing Italian politicians.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, and Mr Francesco Storace, an Alleanza Nazionale deputy and president of the Region of Lazio, were just two of many public figures who publicly opposed the Gay Pride festival, arguing that the organisers' decision to hold the event on the very doorstep of the Catholic Church and in a Holy Year to boot amounted to nothing less than provocation.
Further political tension was generated last month when the Mayor of Rome, Mr Francesco Rutelli, withdrew the city's official sponsorship of the event. Nor were the city authorities keen to allow the Gay Pride march go past the Colosseum today, although following a meeting on Thursday, it was decided to allow the march to file past, but not around, it.
Underlining the deep divide in Italian public life prompted by Gay Pride is the fact that senior trade unionists and politicians from both the right and left, including the Equal Opportunities Minister, Ms Katia Belillio, will be taking part in today's march.
Initially, police and Gay Pride organisers feared the march might be marred by violent disturbances given that a number of organisations including the neo-fascist group, Forza Nuova, the National Citizens' Movement SOS and the self-styled Committee for a Christian Rome, had all planned counter-marches.
Following the death from cystic fibrosis of the 13-year-old daughter of Mr Massimo Morsello, a co-founder of Forza Nuova, that movement has called off its planned counter-march.