Back to the Dark Ages in Italy?
Padua, a northern Italian city, has started removing the names of non-biological LGBTQIA mothers from their children’s birth certificates. This is because of a new legislation passed under the new administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, described as a “traditional family-first” government, a shorthand for those opposing granting equal rights to LGBTQIA people.
At least in Padua, 27 children were affected, as the names of their non-biological mothers were removed from their birth certificates.
This also affects gay fathers and bisexual parents in same-sex relationships as only the names of biological parents may be included in the birth certificates of their children.
Right-wing politician Meloni leads the extremist anti-LGBTQIA Brother of Italy, the ruling party with neo-fascist roots. In the past, she was always vocal about her opposition to LGBTQIA people – e.g. in an earlier interview, she reiterated her belief that “a child deserves only the best: a mother and a father”.
With this measure, only the biological parent of a child can be named on a birth certificate. So those in same-sex relationships now do not have the right to be both named as parents of their children.
Italy still has not legalized marriage equality. And with same-sex relationships not recognized in law, non-biological parents need to make a special case for legally adopting their child.
This move automatically limits the rights of the non-registered parent, requiring them to have permission to carry out everyday family tasks, including picking the child up from school, or using public services on their behalf.
