Italy has seen widespread protests over proposed legislation on same-sex parents' rights. The proposed law, which would restrict adoption by same-sex couples and deny them the right to use donated eggs or sperm, has sparked outrage among the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
On Saturday, hundreds of people flooded the streets of Milan to demonstrate against the new right-wing government's efforts to limit the rights of same-sex couples. There was a rally in support of LGBTQ+ people at the famous Piazza della Scala pedestrian square.
Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, who had previously tweeted his support of same-sex parenting, was also present at the protests. While local officials in Milan claimed hundreds participated, organizers projected 10,000.
The protests began in Milan, where thousands of people took to the streets to express their opposition to the proposed law.
The demonstrations quickly spread to other cities, including Rome, Florence, and Naples, as people voiced their concerns about the impact the law would have on same-sex families.
Italy was the latest European country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2016, but it still does not recognize "stepchildren adoption" or surrogacy, which rights organizations believe is due to resistance from the Catholic Church.
The proposed legislation has also been criticized by the European Union, which has called on Italy to ensure that the rights of same-sex couples and their children are protected.
The EU has warned that the law could violate the bloc's principles of non-discrimination and could harm Italy's reputation as a progressive nation.
Italian politicians have been divided on the issue, with some supporting the proposed law as a way to protect traditional family values, while othershave called for it to be scrapped. The country's Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, has said that he supports the proposed legislation, but has also called for a dialogue with the LGBTQ+ community to find a solution that would be acceptable to all.
Rome, Milan, and other cities have begun using a "Parent 1" and "Parent 2" policy for birth registrations instead of the more usual "mother" and "father" designations; however, Milan was instructed by the Interior Ministry to discontinue this practice last week.
The Italian Ministry of the Interior has said that it would direct all local birth registrars to immediately stop the practice. The Italian senate rejected a proposal last week that would have made it essential for the EU to recognize same-sex parents.
The protests have put pressure on Italian lawmakers to reconsider the proposed legislation. While the bill has yet to be finalized, the widespread opposition to the proposed law suggests that there may be significant changes to the final version.
Same-sex parents who have had a child born overseas through surrogacy have been forced to choose between listing only one parent on official birth records or taking their cases to family court.
The protests in Italy over the proposed legislation on same-sex parents' rights highlight the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition in Europe.
As the EU and other international bodies continue to push for greater equality and non-discrimination, it remains to be seen how Italy and other nations will respond to the demands of their citizens and the wider international community.