Massive Rallies In Italy To Support Civil Unions

Italy is the only country in western Europe that does not recognize civil unions or marriage for gay people. Although they have been condemned by The European Court of Human Rights, the country seat of the Catholic Church recently introduced a bill that would outlaw surrogacy, preventing gay couples from having children.

The rallies took place in over 100 cities, ahead of what is expected to be a very contentious debate in the Italian Parliament next week. According to the BBC, “A small number of municipalities in Italy allow local civil unions, but there is a national ban on same-sex marriage and the benefits of the existing provision are limited.” The Italian gay community has had enough of those limitations.

Tens of thousands of people have marched in cities across Italy, demanding legal recognition for same-sex couples.

The rallies were held as lawmakers are due to debate the deeply divisive issue next week.

Opponents of the bill in the mainly Catholic nation are planning to hold their own demonstration next Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people took to streets. Seems like almost as many took to twitter, unifying with the hashtag #svegliaitalia

They included director Lucas Kazan:

“For civil unions and equal rights. No to the homophobic Church of Bagnasco and co.”

“We hope it will pass, but we don’t know,” said Fabrizio Marrazzo, a top gay rights activist with the campaign group Arcigay in Rome. “We hope the politicians see that this is not a law just for LGBT people, but for all Italians, for civil rights in Italy. We don’t have more time. In other parts of Europe they did this 10 years ago.”

(h/t The Guardian)

Tags: gay rights, Italy, Lucas Kazan, marriage equality