Italian porn star makes her point

28 November 2003

AMSTERDAM — Italian porn star and politician La Cicciolina demonstrated outside government buildings in The Hague Friday, apparently to protest at what she sees as the increasing prudishness in Amsterdam. She feels that tightening laws are turning the “sex capital of Europe” into a boring city.

Together with a handful of other protestors, La Cicciolina strutted in high stilettos and a long fur coat around the statue of Willem van Oranje near the Binnenhof complex where the Dutch Parliament meets.

The protest was designed to compel the Dutch public to ask what is wrong with pole dancing?

She has apparently been annoyed by moves by councillors in Amsterdam to limit street prostitution and prevent the mushrooming of clubs featuring erotic poll-dancing. There have also been calls in recent years to impose opening and closing hours on the prostitute windows in the Red Light District.

There have also been calls to scrap city bye-laws limiting the opening hours of pubs and cafes in Amsterdam.

And while she was busy making her political point, her thick red lips were also seen directing kisses in the direction of the cameras, news agency ANP reported.

The number of people watching the show, mainly men, outnumbered the protestors. One avid watcher said the porn star was 52, but still looked like a young girl. In her hand she held a doll, a mini version of herself.

But La Cicciolina — who won a seat in the Italian Parliament in 1987, due in part to the fact she flashed one of her breasts quite regularly to the feverish public — could not easily elucidate her protest. What she did do was again flash her mammary gland to the awaiting press.

Dutch journalists trying to speak to her in English found her command of the language inadequate, but she did express the importance of demonstrating. And a male protestor was convinced the action opened the nation’s eyes.

Well, in a manner of speaking.

Subject: Dutch news