The Internet naming of 10 Italian politicians as homosexual has caused a furore, with the country’s main gay rights group calling it a “wretched rag-bag of gossip” that did more harm than good.

Bloggers in Italy have published a list of ten politicians there whom they allege to be “gay but homophobic”. They say they are doing it to “bring a little justice in a country where there are people who do not have any kind of defense against the daily attacks and insults by a class of bad political hypocrites.”

“We decided to start with these 10 names to show clearly how hypocrisy and discrimination rule in the Italian parliament.”

The list, including right-wing ministers and members of parliament belonging to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s party, was published today on a US-based weblog.

1. FERDINANDO ADORNATO
2. MARIO BACCINI
3. PAOLO BONAIUTI
4. ROBERTO CALDEROLI
5. MASSIMO CORSARO
6. ROBERTO FORMIGONI
7. MAURIZIO GASPARRI
8. GIANNI LETTA
9. MARCO MILANESE
10. LUCA VOLONTE’

The blog said the first target was parties that voted against a law condemning homophobia, which was thrown out for the second time in July.

The outing was backed by Aurelio Mancuso, head of Equality Italia, who said those named should not feel insulted or make an issue of it because being called gay is not an insult.

But Paolo Patane, head of gay rights defence group Arcigay, said the list contained no proof of the homosexuality or homophobia of those named.

Catholic Italy is one of the few European states that lacks specific legislation against homophobic violence, which has increased in recent years, and has no provision for gay civil unions.

Berlusconi himself brags of his heterosexual performance and last year dismissed a sex scandal involving him, saying: “It’s better to be passionate about beautiful women than to be gay.”

Activists quickly came up with a slogan printed on placards and T-shirts reading: “It’s better to be gay than to be Berlusconi.”

In another speech in 2007, Berlusconi boasted there were no gays in his party. “Don’t be afraid – the gays are all on the other side,”