Two young women asked anti-LGBTQ politician to take a picture with them -- then photobombed him

Social activists Gaia Parisi and Matilde Rizzo are just friends -- but when Italy's ultra-conservative Interior Minister Matteo Salvini visited their hometown, the 19-year-olds couldn't resist the chance to photobomb him with a same-sex kiss.

Salvini, who is leader of the far-right, anti-immigrant League Party, recently endorsed and addressed an anti-LGBT and anti-abortion World Congress of Families event in Verona, Italy. The group's stated mission is to "defend the natural family."

(Ours is) ... "a message of love and tolerance against the language and the attitude of hatred that politicians like Matteo Salvini keep spreading," Parisi told CNN. "But also it's an encouragement not to give up, to keep protesting against discrimination and injustices, because even a simple and natural act like a kiss can open a political debate."

Salvini recently caused outrage by snubbing Italy's annual Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of fascism and Nazism, in favor of promoting a local candidate in Sicily and speaking against the mafia.

The two teenagers were taking part in a protest in Caltanissetta, Sicily, where Salvini was speaking this week when he started posing for selfies with supporters. They walked over, queued for a few minutes, and when it was their turn, they kissed. Security immediately separated them. Salvini said he wished the pair well, and that they "have sons," and patted Rizzo on the head, Parisi said.

She shared the photo on Instagram because she believes politicians such as Salvini use social media "in a totally improper way."

"We decided to use all the means at our disposal to protest peacefully, to be able to send our message through the platforms that unfortunately, today, seems to be the main platforms by which our ministers communicate with citizens," Parisi said. "If the inadequacy of the medium was not enough, I think that the use they make of it is really improper."

The photo went viral on Instgram and later Salvini reposted it with the message: "Best wishes, peace and good, sisters." CNN reached out to Salvini representatives who said they had nothing to add to what he had posted.

By Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN. The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

The Gayly – May 2, 2019 @ 12:25 p.m. CDT.