Italy takes a step towards recognising same-sex marriage

Until Wednesday’s vote Italy had been the last major Western democracy not to legally recognise gay partnerships and now Italy’s parliament has backed same-sex civil unions in a vote of confidence for centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

However critics say Italy’s Civil unions bill does not go as far as civil union laws elsewhere in Europe, the US and Canada. The Clause that would have enabled gay people to adopt a partner’s biological children was dropped while there is no blanket ban on adoption, but family judges will decide on a case-by-case basis.

While a Requirement for gay couples to pledge loyalty was dropped – to make civil union less like marriage but gay couples get right to take each other’s names and receive deceased partner’s pension.

Rome goes RAINBOW #LoveWins #unionicivili pic.twitter.com/NXHRGG3y35

— ✨Dan #YANA [-8]✨ (@DanWinchester_6) May 11, 2016

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Love won #unionicivili pic.twitter.com/gDOWbfFrgk

— joshifer❣; (@jenbreath) May 11, 2016

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Italy takes a step towards recognizing same-sex marriage