Rocco Siffredi Wants to Give Back—To Italian Schoolchildren

CYBERSPACE—Legendary porn star Rocco Siffredi, who conquered the adult industry by appearing in and directing more than 1,000 hardcore movies, then crossed over to appear in several mainstream film and TV projects, has taken on a new challenge: The Catholic Church. According to a 2013 European Parliament report, Sex Education in Europe, "While sexuality education is mandatory by law in nearly all the countries of the European Union, the content and quality will vary. Nordic and Benelux countries are known for having the highest quality of sexuality education, while Eastern and Southern European States have deficient or inexistent sexuality education programmes." "Southern European States," of course, includes Italy, and one clue to its lack of sex ed in schools may be found in the final paragraph of the report's "Key Findings": "The disparities between quality and frequency of delivery of sexuality education in the 24 observed EU Member States can be explained by cultural and religious traditions (incidence and influence of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, traditions, etc.) and financial issues (budget cuts in the public sector, incidence of the financial crisis)." As Siffredi has long stated, one of the reasons he cut back on his adult performing and directing was to spend more time with his family—his wife and two young sons—but with that much experience in porn, Siffredi realized that he had a wealth of information he could offer to youngsters who are just beginning their sexual adventures—and that they shouldn't learn about sex from porn. So on World Orgasm Day (December 22), Siffredi wrote a letter to Italian Education Minister Stefania Giannini, and at the same time used the letter as a petition on Change.org, decrying the lack of sex education in Italian schools, and offering his services as an instructor. "Pornography should be entertainment, but because of lack of alternatives has become a learning tool, especially among young people. Do you think it's normal?" Siffredi wrote in his petition to the Minister. "Dialogue, listening, openness on the subject of sex in Italy is still in the distance. Sex is still taboo in Italy, but many would need to talk about it, open up, be heard and get answers. Many young people would want to satisfy their curiosity, but they do not know where to turn. "Sex education is compulsory in all EU countries except in Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom. "In Italy we have seen decades of proposals on sex education and no law. There is no law, therefore, although there is demand for training. "I am a proud porn actor and director, who stars in nearly 2,000 porn movies as actor and 450 as director and from a very young age I wanted to dedicate my life to sex. "On the occasion of World Orgasm Day (22 December), I want to launch this appeal, because sex is a beautiful thing. I put forth my face and experience, I offer my full availability to visit Italian schools and personally promote this initiative. "Why me? I have done my job for 30 years and I have acquired enough experience to understand that what I do is not sex education, but rather, just pornography. "The boys have the right to open up, ask questions, get answers, receive training on one of the most beautiful and important in life. "What are we still waiting? Sex education in schools!" As of today, the petition has a little mroe than 30,000 signatures of a hoped-for 35,000.