Italy: Highest appeals court rejects same-sex marriage
According to Italy’s highest appeals court, same-sex couples have no right to marriage, as there is nothing in the Italian constitution requiring the Government to grant such rights.
The Cassation Court on Monday rejected same-sex marriage, but said gay people had a right to a “protective” law ensuring equal rights to unmarried straight couples.
Rome city council’s assembly last month gave approval to a register for same-sex civil unions.
The move, which proves controversial in the conservative country, was hailed as historic by some, as it means despite having no legal status in Italy, civil unions will now be registered in the City.
The mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino said: “This is not only an act of civility and respect of people, but it aligns us with the rest of the western world, in line with the principal European countries with whom we share our political and cultural history.”
Various mayors have defied orders to transcribe foreign same-sex marriages or civil unions onto the registers in Italian towns and cities.
