Thousands march in Italy for gay rights

Series Title
Series Details 24.01.16
Publication Date 24/01/2016
Content Type

Italian advocates of civil union for gays and lesbians protested in some 90 cities on the 24 January 2016, demanding legal recognition in the traditionally Catholic nation. Italy's Senate was due to have a law change debate on the 28 January 2016 as they discussed a proposed new bill.

The bill would enable gay people to commit to one another before a state official and, in certain circumstances, adopt each other's children and inherit residual pension rights.

Italy was the only major Western European country not to have enacted civil union legislation allowing same-sex couples to have their relationships acknowledged and protected in law.

Supporters for the bill said that Italy had no choice this time but to change, pointing to repeated complaints from the European Court of Human Rights. But opponents hoped that a 'Family Day' protest in Rome on the 30 January 2016, backed by the Catholic Church, would halt the proposed legislation.

Euro|Topics and other news sources reported on the 25 February 2016 that after months of wrangling and huge rallies on both sides, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was determined to push through legal recognition of same-sex unions. He had announced that a vote that day in the Italian Senate on amended legislation for gay civil unions would be a confidence vote.

Gay rights groups voiced anger arguing that the amended bill had been diluted too much.

The watered down bill was passed by 173 for it to 71 against it.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.thelocal.it/20160124/huge-gay-rights-rallies-in-italy
Related Links
ESO: Background information: 'Gay marriages must be scrapped': Alfano http://www.europeansources.info/record/gay-marriages-must-be-scrapped-alfano/
BBC News, 24.01.16: Italy same-sex marriage: Rallies held across country http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35394069
Deutsche Welle, 24.01.16: Italy's gays, lesbians press for civil unions http://dw.com/p/1Hj0q
The Local.it, 28.01.16: Italian Senate tackles gay civil unions in risk to Renzi http://www.thelocal.it/20160128/italy-senate-tackles-gay-civil-unions-in-risk-to-pm
The Guardian, 31.01.16: Catholic Italy mobilises as conservatives mount last stand against same-sex unions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/31/same-sex-marriage-mass-rally-rome
Politico, 28.01.16: ‘Marriage Italian style’ may soon include LGBT couples http://www.politico.eu/article/marriage-italian-style-may-soon-include-lgbt-couples-rights-human/
The Local.it, 31.01.16: Poor turnout for Rome anti-gay union protest http://www.thelocal.it/20160131/poor-turnout-for-rome-anti-gay-protest
BBC News, 30.01.16: Italy protest against same-sex unions gathers thousands http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35452720
Deutsche Welle, 30.01.16: Tens of thousands protest against same-sex unions in Rome http://dw.com/p/1HmJ7
Euro|Topics: Debates, 31.01.16: Mass protest against gay marriage in Italy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/152956/mass-protest-against-gay-marriage-in-italy
EurActiv, 08.02.16: Italy continues to drag feet on same-sex civil unions http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/italy-continues-drag-feet-same-sex-civil-unions-321678
Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: Italy's government fights for gay marriage http://www.eurotopics.net/en/152956/italy-s-government-fights-for-gay-marriage
The Local.it, 25.02.16: Italy set for crunch vote on gay unions http://www.thelocal.it/20160225/live-italy-set-for-crunch-vote-on-gay-unions
Deutsche Welle, 25.02.16: Italian Senate approves civil unions for gay and heterosexual couples http://dw.com/p/1I2Xf

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