Porn star Rocco Siffred petitions Italian government for sex education policy change

Porn star Rocco Siffredi, who goes by the stage name of the Italian Stallion, has launched a petition to demand that sex education become mandatory in Italy's schools. The adult movie star that has appeared in more than 1,300 films including Buttman's European Vacation and New Wave Hookers 3 has also offered to teach the subject himself.

In a statement on his website, he said: "I wanted to launch this appeal because sex is a magnificent thing. I put forth my name and my experience, I make myself fully available to go into Italian schools and personally promote this initiative."

The actor has launched the appeal because sex education is not currently part of the curriculum in Italian schools. The petition on change.org, is addressed to Italian education minister Stefania Giannini and has been signed by more than 30,000 supporters.

Siffredi started his adult movie career in 1987 with a role in Attention Fillettes (Look Out Little Girls). He then took a step back from porn and worked as a fashion model, but returned to the adult film business after two years.

In collaboration with John Stagliano's Evil Angel studio and then his own Budapest-based Rocco Siffredi Produzioni studio as both a performer and director, Siffredi became one of the most powerful and recognisable personalities in pornography.

The current stipulation for sex education in Italian schools is set by the headmaster of each school. If the teaching of sex education is allowed it is taught within the confines of the subject of biology and not as a standalone subject due to Italy's strict Roman Catholic religious beliefs.