The evolution of LGBT+ rights in Italy has recently been marked by a series of restrictive measures against same-sex families. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, several municipalities have decided to restrict the recognition of homosexual parents on the birth certificates of their children. This situation sparked strong reactions and protests from the families concerned and LGBT+ associations.
One of the emblematic cases is that of Denise and Giulia, a couple of women raising their 6-year-old son. Although civil unions between people of the same sex have been authorized in Italy since 2016, the mention of the second parent on birth certificates often depends on the will of the mayor of the municipality. Thus, in the case of Denise and Giulia, only the biological mother was listed on their child’s birth certificate. When the child was urgently hospitalized, Giulia found herself faced with an overwhelming situation: her unrecognized status put her in the position of a ghost parent, with no real rights over her child’s health.
The legal difficulties faced by same-sex families in Italy do not end there. In addition to the lack of recognition on birth certificates, adoption for same-sex couples is also a challenge. Indeed, although Italian law has allowed the adoption of a partner’s child since 2014, the procedure is long, costly and uncertain. Social services carry out extensive checks on the relationship between the non-biological parent and the child, which can lead to years of waiting and unpredictable situations, such as the death of a parent or the breakdown of the couple.
However, the current situation in Italy is worrying for same-sex families. Since Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d’Italia party came to power, LGBT+ rights have suffered a significant setback. In April 2023, the prefecture of Milan announced that it would no longer recognize homosexual couples on birth certificates, a decision also followed by the municipality of Padua, which even requested the modification of the birth certificates of the children of couples of women born to PMA abroad to erase the name of the non-biological mother.
This regression of LGBT+ rights in Italy has sparked strong reactions and intense mobilization from LGBT+ associations and the political opposition. These restrictive measures are seen as an attack on the fundamental rights of same-sex families and go against the recognition and equal rights of all citizens.
It is essential to continue to denounce these attacks on LGBT+ rights in Italy and to support same-sex families in their struggles for the recognition and protection of their rights.. Equality and respect for the rights of all families, regardless of their composition, must be defended and promoted in all countries.