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Gay civil unions take effect in Italy

July 29, 2016

Italy has become the last major Western country to legalize same-sex partnerships as a much-disputed law takes effect. The Catholic Church and several parties have strongly opposed the move.

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Rome Gay Pride
Image: imago/Pacific Press Agency

Town halls across Italy Friday reported that requests for gay unions have started coming in, although there was confusion over who was the first to have their partnership registered as the legislation took effect.

Some local media reported that a lesbian couple known as Helen and Deborah held a ceremony attended by family and friends last Sunday in Castel San Pietro, in the province of Bologna.

Italian daily Repubblica reported the first registration in the northern city of Milan had actually already taken place Wednesday between an unnamed civil servant and her terminally ill partner, Margherita, who is in intensive care. The ceremony took place in a hospice where the 53-year-old was transferred at the beginning of July.

The much-disputed law, which was passed by parliament in May, was held up for several years due to fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, and led to huge protests on the streets of Rome earlier in the year.

Anti-civil union protests
In January, anti-same sex union porotesters in Rome held placards which read: "It is wrong even if it becomes law"Image: Reuters/R. Casilli

Shortly after its passing, one Italian archbishop told Repubblica the bill was an example of "creeping fascism," saying the law was passed despite there being "a big slice of the country that does not want it."

Last year, the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Italian government for failing to recognize gay unions, when most other EU states had.

Although civil unions are permitted, same-sex couples will continue to be denied equal adoption rights. By December, more complicated cases - such as couples of different nationalities who got married overseas - will be formally recognized.

Italy is the last major Western country to introduce legal recognition of gay relationships and the law's provisions do not go as far as the gay marriage legislation enacted in other European countries such as Britain, France or Spain.

Local media reported that the text of the law refers to a "state official" as presiding over the ceremonies, which will allow local mayors to refuse to perform the sanction the union due to religious reasons.

mm/kms (AFP, Repubblica)