A suicidal gay teen’s ‘last letter’ has gotten the attention of prominent Italian politician Laura Boldrini.

According to British newspaper The Independent, Davide Tancredi wrote a letter that was published earlier this week by Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Tancredi wrote: ‘I am gay, I am 17-years old and this letter is my last alternative to suicide in a troglodyte society; in a world that does not accept me even though I’m born that way.’

Though Italy has made recent progress in advancing LGBT rights, like recognizing a foreign marriage of two same-sex Italian residents and granting politicians’ same-sex partners health benefits, the country remains one of the most homophobic in Europe under the Vatican’s heavy influence. A 2012 survey revealed that 73% of LGBT Italians are victims of gay hate in school, at work or at home.

‘Not everyone is fortunate enough to be born heterosexual,’ wrote Tancredi.

‘If there was a little less discrimination and a little more sympathy or Christian charity, people would stop hating.’

Tancredi said the suicide of an anti-gay marriage protester in Paris earlier last week sparked his need to reach out.

Laura Boldrini, the speaker of Italian Parliament, noticed Tancredi’s letter after it had gone viral and proceeded to respond with her own letter of thanks: ‘You had the nerve to call into question, to put us adults to face up to our responsibilities.’

Boldrini is a popular Italian journalist and human rights advocate who was elected to Parliament this year by an overwhelming majority.

‘I have a daughter not much older than you,’ she said, ‘And I’m deeply disturbed by your cry for help.’

Boldrini then asked the teen to meet with her to discuss how the country can improve on homophobia.

Boldrini said later in a statement: ‘A country that considers itself civilised cannot afford to live without a law against ‘homophobia, an evil that drives many young people to take their own lives.’