Italy’s New Law Slams Door On Same-Sex Couples’ Dreams Of Starting A Family
Italy’s Senate has approved a law that makes it nearly impossible for LGBTQIA+ couples to have children through surrogacy. The new rule extends beyond Italian borders, making it illegal for Italians to use surrogates in other countries.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government had already banned surrogacy and adoption by same-sex couples in Italy. This new law goes further. It treats surrogacy as a crime no matter where it happens. People who break this rule could face two years in prison and a large fine.
“It’s like a truck hitting us in the face,” Pierre Molena, a gay man looking into surrogacy abroad with his partner told CNN.
The law also affects Italian medical staff working in foreign fertility clinics that offer surrogacy. They could face legal trouble for their work.
“We are worried about our future and that of our children,” says Prime Minister Molena.
Supporters of the law say it protects women and children. Senator Susanna Campione, who voted for the law, believes surrogacy turns women into “reproductive machines”.
But not everyone agrees. Alessandra Maiorino, from the Five Star Movement, thinks the law hurts children of gay couples who already exist. She told lawmakers, “It looks like you don’t realise these people already exist.”
The impact on families
About 250 Italian couples use international surrogacy each year. Ten percent of these are same-sex couples. The new law will affect their plans to start or grow their families.
Salvatore Scarpa, a gay dad who had a daughter through surrogacy in California, calls the law “disgusting”. He and his partner plan to have another child with the same surrogate. “How dare they judge us,” he told The Post.
A broader European issue
Surrogacy laws vary across Europe. It’s banned in Germany and France but allowed in some cases in the UK and Greece. Pope Francis has spoken against surrogacy, calling it “womb renting”.
This law is part of a larger push for “traditional values” by Meloni’s government. Last year, they stopped Italian cities from accepting birth certificates listing same-sex parents. This denied children access to citizenship, public schools, and healthcare.
The future for LGBTQIA+ families in Italy
As the law moves closer to becoming final, many LGBTQIA+ couples in Italy face an uncertain future. They must now rethink their plans for starting families, navigating a legal landscape that seems increasingly hostile to their dreams of parenthood.
