Italy's LGBT Community: Challenging the State's Denial of Our Children

Italian authorities are implementing new measures that specifically target LGBT families and make it more difficult for them to have children. One of these measures is a proposed law that would make it illegal for Italian citizens to have children through surrogacy overseas. Same-sex parents view this law as a personal attack against them. Surrogacy is already illegal in Italy and most of Europe, so couples often travel to countries where it is legal, such as the US and Canada, to have their babies. However, if the new law is passed, surrogacy would be considered a "universal crime" and could be prosecuted even if committed abroad. No other country has a similar ban. Couples like Claudio and Davide, who are expecting a child through surrogacy, are deeply concerned about the possible consequences. They could face a fine of up to one million euros and two years in jail if the bill becomes law. Fearing imprisonment and targeting by the Italian government, they are considering seeking political asylum in more LGBT-friendly European countries, with Davide even learning Dutch and Maltese in preparation. The proposed surrogacy bill is part of Italy's socially conservative agenda, driven by Giorgia Meloni, the first female prime minister, whose Brothers of Italy party has roots in the ideology of Mussolini's Fascist Party. Meloni holds the belief that a child should only be raised by a mother and a father, reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church in Italy. Same-sex couples in Italy have limited rights compared to those in most of Western Europe, and options like artificial insemination and adoption are not available to LGBT couples. Opponents of the bill argue that it is irrational to equate surrogacy with crimes like human trafficking and paedophilia. Scholars criticize the proposed law for punishing actions that are legal in allied countries, such as the US and Canada. They see it as a broader attack on LGBT rights in Italy. However, Carolina Varchi, the MP who drafted the bill, justifies it as a means to protect women and their dignity. She compares surrogacy to a crime and likens it to paedophilia, although she suggests that fines would be more common than prison sentences. It is worth noting that despite claims that most people who use surrogacy are heterosexual, 90% of couples who use surrogacy in Italy are actually straight. Many of these couples hide the fact that they went abroad for surrogacy. However, same-sex families cannot avoid detection when returning to Italy with a child. Aside from the surrogacy bill, the Italian government is also implementing other measures to make it more challenging for LGBT parents to form families. For instance, local authorities across the country were instructed to stop registering children of same-sex parents, depriving them of Italian citizenship and access to healthcare and education. Some parents face the cancellation of their children's birth certificates, and judges have historically ruled against same-sex parents in past court cases. LGBT parents in Italy are adamant about not allowing their children to be treated as second-class citizens and are determined to fight for their right to have a family. They view the current situation as an injustice and believe that the government wants to enforce its idea of a "traditional family."