I would imagine you are looking for a 2012 summer adventure

So, Torre del Lago is definitely gay scene, and it's funny enough to attract a lot of Italian gay guys over the summer. But think of it more as an ongoing festival - there's a lot of nightlife, many events, and the area is generally extremely friendly.

BUT.

If you are coming to Italy, do you REALLY value going to a gay event more than going to Florence? I would sincerely hope not.

Anyway, they are close, so you can fit a visit to all three surely.

A word of warning. Le Cinque Terre were recently damaged badly by a flood and subsequent mudslide... so you may wish to check that the zones you wish to visit have been restored, before going there. It might be better to go to Le Cinque Terre next year, in my personal opinion.

Anyway, if you want hints for your summer trip, feel free to ask ^

Re: English and Italians... sorry, that's so dramatically true. I recently began switching abruptly to English during recruitment interviews just to check if my perspective employee can work internationally. In general, English is enough to get by and to tour cities. However, if you wish to make friends in the crowd, meh... If you speak spanish, you will probably find yourself more at ease.