Conservatives and progressives
within the ruling coalition girded for battle Tuesday night
ahead of Senate debate on the government's civil unions bill on
Wednesday.
As it stands, the bill provides "full recognition of
same-sex couples via a new juridical institution, called the
civil union" according to its rapporteur, Senator Monica
Cirinna' from Premier Matteo Renzi's center-left Democratic
Party (PD).
It would give same-sex couples many of the same rights and
responsibilities as straight married couples, including the
right to adopt their spouse's children - known as stepchild
adoption - and for widows to receive their deceased partners'
pensions and inherit their property.
It also lays duties such as that of mutual assistance and
of contributing to common needs.
Other laws, regulations, and collective bargaining
contracts that refer to heterosexual marriage "will be
applicable in the same way to the parties in a civil union".
"There can be no turning back the clock on the recognition
of social rights," Cirinna' has warned.
However, the traditionally Catholic center right, as well
as Catholic elements within the center-left are not happy with
the bill because it recognizes the rights of gays in committed
relationships to be parents.
This, they argue, will inevitably usher in the legalization
of surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy and which the
Catholic Church condemns as a sin.
The PD said earlier in the day it will allow its lawmakers
to vote their conscience on the bill, in particular regarding
the issue of "stepchild adoption", said Senator Stefano Lepri, a
member of the Catholic wing of the centre-left group.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, who leads the New Center
Right (NCD) party, a junior member of the ruling coalition, has
said he would wage a "loyal" battle against aspects of Renzi's
bill.
"Yes to the recognition of individual property and
inheritance rights, no to adoptions," he said.
In July, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Italy
for failing to provide legal "recognition and protection" for
same-sex couples, and said it must remedy the situation by
changing its laws.
The European Parliament in March called on EU member
States that have not already done so, to recognise civil unions
and same-sex marriage as a civil and human right.
In February, Italy's highest appeals court rejected
same-sex marriage, saying there was nothing in the Constitution
that requires the government to extend marriage rights to gays.
However, the Cassation Court added then that homosexuals
have the right to a "protective" law that would ensure same-sex
couples have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples.
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