Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said it’s better “to be passionate about” pretty women than gay men and repeated that he helped a 17-year-old dancer out of kindness.

After media reports, Berlusconi, 74, admitted last week he had aided a girl who had been arrested for theft earlier this year. The girl, who goes by the name Ruby, later told prosecutors she had attended parties with sex games at Berlusconi’s Milan villa and that the premier gave her money and gifts, newspapers including la Repubblica have reported. Berlusconi denied any wrongdoing.

“It was merely an act of solidarity” to help the woman, Berlusconi said during a speech today at the motorcycle industry’s annual conference near Milan. “I work all the time. I sometimes take the liberty of looking at a beautiful woman’s face. It’s better to be passionate about beautiful women than gay men.”

Italy’s largest gay rights organization, Arcigay, said Berlusconi should apologize, according to the group’s website.

“It’s unacceptable that the head of a government, who is clearly in a difficult position because of his senile passions, should be so macho and vulgar and make a senseless statement about gays, lesbians and transsexuals,” Arcigay President Paolo Patane said. “Arcigay demands an immediate, official apology.”

After a European Union summit in Brussels on Oct. 29, Berlusconi said he had merely acted to help a young woman “in a tragic situation,” while he denied pressuring police officials to release her.

“At my age, nobody will be able to make me change my lifestyle,” he said last week. “I love life and fun, I love women.”

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