Italy’s parliament on Wednesday made it illegal for couples to go abroad to have a child through surrogacy – a pet project of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s party, which activists say is aimed at gay partners. Have to do.
Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has pursued a highly conservative social agenda, seeking to promote what she sees as traditional family values, making it increasingly difficult for LGBTQ couples to become legal parents .
The Senate, the upper house, passed the bill proposed by the Meloni Brothers of Italy party by 84 votes to 58. This bill was already approved by the lower house last year.
The law extends a surrogacy ban already in place in Italy since 2004 to those traveling to countries such as the United States or Canada, where it is legal, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million euros ($1.09). Is imposed. million).
“Motherhood is absolutely unique, it cannot be replaced at all and it is the foundation of our civilization,” said Brothers of Italy senator Lavinia Menuhin during a parliamentary debate.
“We want to root out the practice of surrogacy tourism.”
Earlier this year, Meloni called surrogacy an ‘inhumane’ practice in which children are treated as supermarket products, reiterating a position expressed by the Catholic Church.
On Tuesday, protesters gathered near the Senate and expressed their outrage over the bill, saying the government is oppressing LGBTQ people and harming those who want to have children, despite the fact that in Italy birth is prohibited. The rate is falling rapidly.
Franco Grillini, a longtime activist for LGBTQ rights in Italy, says, “If someone has children, they should be given a medal. Here instead you are sent to prison… if you don’t have children in the traditional way. Are.” , told Reuters at the demonstration.
Alessia Crosini, president of Rainbow Families, said that 90% of Italians who choose surrogacy are heterosexual couples, but they mostly do so in secret, meaning the new ban will really only affect lesbian couples who cannot hide it. .
The ban on surrogacy comes against the backdrop of a decline in the birth rate, with national statistics institute ISTAT saying in March that births are set to hit a record low in 2023 – the 15th consecutive annual decline.
“It’s a monstrous law. There is no such thing in any country in the world,” Grillini said, referring to the government’s move to prevent Italians from taking advantage of perfectly legal practices in some countries.
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