The Gay Street (Italian: Gay Street di Roma) is an area in Rome, Italy designated as a gay- and lesbian-friendly neighborhood. A 300 metre shopping and bar area in the center of the city on Via San Giovanni in Laterano, a street leading to the east flank of the Colosseum, it was formally designated in 2007 following an incident in which a homosexual couple was detained by a policeman, allegedly for kissing in public. The opening ceremonies, led by the Italian LGBT organization Arcigay, were attended by celebrities and national and municipal politicians.