Photographer Oliviero Toscani’s recent advertisements, which feature “two men kissing and groping on a sofa,” are creating quite the stir in Italy.

‘These posters are vulgar and a bad example for our children,’ said a spokesman for the parents association MOIGE, which wants the adverts banned. ‘It’s not a matter of sexual orientation. They would be crass even if they featured a man and a woman.’ Complaints have flooded in to the offices of Rome city council and an organisation called The Citizens Defence Movement has joined the chorus of criticism. ‘Obviously we respect homosexuality but it can be difficult to explain to young children,’ a spokesman said.

Toscani, who was behind the controversial Benetton clothing company adverts and whose career has been built on shock tactics, was typically unrepentant. The 63-year-old photographer admitted he had taken advantage of the current debate in Italy about the legal and civil rights of gay couples.

‘There’s a big discussion going on about homosexuality in Italy so I thought it was the right time to do something like this,” he told The Observer. “I don’t think it’s vulgar. It’s just two men having fun together. These parents who are complaining – their kids already know about this stuff. The Vatican is not too happy with me either but the church is an anachronism in the world today. I don’t think it has any influence on young people.’

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