Italy rejects gay marriage

Highest appeals court denies that gay couples have the right to get married.

Italy’s highest appeals court has rejected same-sex marriage.

The Cassation Court has said there is nothing in the Constitution that requires the government to extend marriage rights to LGBTI people.

However, it did say same-sex couples should have the same rights as unmarried Italian opposite-sex couples.

The Constitution states: ‘All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and social conditions.’

In Rome last month, the city council passed an amendment saying same-sex marriages contracted abroad are to be recognized under the newly created civil union register.

The Interior Minister opposed it, ordering that gay couples should not be treated the same as straight couples.

But Rome’s mayor Ignazio Marino defied the order, saying: ”This is not only an act of civility and respect…it (puts us) in line with the main European countries with whom we share our political and cultural history.’

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