Although same-sex marriage is legal in Italy, Meloni has told the local government in Milan to stop registering non-biological parents in same-sex couples.
A man carries a boy on his shoulders during a demonstration by gay rights and civil society groups in Milan on March 18, 2023, against moves by Italy’s right-wing government to restrict the rights of same-sex parents. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
By refusing to recognize parental rights of same-sex couples, the government is thus complicating the everyday lives of thousands of families, preventing non-biological parents from accessing schooling services and authorizing medical treatments to leaving children with the prospect of becoming orphaned in extreme scenarios.
Cristiano Giraldi, 44 and Giorgio Duca, 40, pose for a picture with their children Ginevra and Emanuele, before an interview with Reuters, in Rome, Italy March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
In order to gain parental rights, non-biological parents will now have to go through the adoption process, which can take years.
The move is the first prominent sign of Meloni, who was elected in September 2022, pushing a hard-right ideology, according to the New York Times.
Giorgia Meloni argues on stage with an activist holding a rainbow flag during the election rally on September 02, 2022 in Cagliari, Italy. Italians head to the polls for general elections on September 25, 2022. (Photo by Emanuele Perrone/Getty Images)
Although she emphasized being a woman and mother on her campaign trail, Meloni has voiced opposition to abortion, euthanasia and same-sex relationships.
“Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology… no to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders, no to massive migration,” Meloni said in a speech in Spain in June 2022.
The rainbow families, an association of families with homosexual parents demonstrate in the square Piazza Castello, Torino Italy, on april 28, 2023, wearing t-shirts that read ”it’s love that creates a family”, to ask for the recognition of the birth certificates of children born from same-sex parents. Italy had legalized same-sex unions in 2016 but do not recognize surrogate motherhood or the right of gay couples to adopt. (Photo by Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto)
Milan’s center-right mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has pledged to fight the move.
On Saturday April 22, hundreds of people took to the the streets of Milan to protest Meloni’s conservative agenda.
The rainbow families, an association of families with homosexual parents demonstrate in the square Piazza Castello, Torino Italy, on april 28, 2023, wearing t-shirts that read ”it’s love that creates a family”, to ask for the recognition of the birth certificates of children born from same-sex parents. Italy had legalized same-sex unions in 2016 but do not recognize surrogate motherhood or the right of gay couples to adopt. (Photo by Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto)
“This government is the maximum expression of homophobia,” Alessia Crocini, the president of Rainbow Families said.
Crocini added that Meloni’s belief that a child needs a mother and father in order to grow up well is “insulting to hundreds of thousands of families with two same-sex parents.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – JUNE 25: Marchers walk with a giant rainbow flag as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in Bologna on June 25, 2016 in Bologna, Italy. The parade is part of a World Pride Week and attracted thousands of marchers fighting for gay rights. 2016 Pride comes just two weeks after Omar Mateen shot dead 50 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Awakening/Getty Images)
Italy legalized same-sex civil unions in 2016, but fell short of allowing LBGTQ partners to adopt each other’s children.
TURIN, ITALY – JUNE 18: Girls kissing during the Turin Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Parade on June 18, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
The government has issued no official statements on its actions.
