Hundreds protest against gay parenting ban in Milan

Rome, Italy
CNN
—

On Saturday, hundreds of people took to the streets of Milan to protest against the actions of the new Italian government. right wing The government restricts the rights of same-sex parents.

The demonstration, titled “Hands Off Our Sons and Daughters”, took place in the historic Piazza della Scala pedestrian square and was organized by LGBTQ+ groups across the country.

“You will explain to my son that I am not his mother,” read one of the protest posters. Others raised ballpoint pens in protest, which were used to sign birth certificates.

The protests were also attended by Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who previously tweeted about his support for same-sex families.

Organizers estimated that about 10,000 people attended the event, while the city of Milan gave a more modest estimate of a few hundred people.

In 2016, Italy became the last country in Europe legalize same-sex unions but it still does not recognize “adoption of foster children” or surrogacy, which rights groups say is due to opposition from Catholic Church.

His government is led by a far-right prime minister Georgia Meloniplaces strong accent on traditional family values.

Same-sex parents wishing to register their children born through surrogacy abroad often had to simply enter one parent’s name on official birth documents or go to family court.

Several cities, including the capital Rome and Milan, have introduced a parent 1/parent 2 birth registration policy rather than the traditional mother/father designation, but last week the interior ministry ordered the city of Milan to end the practice.

Italy’s interior ministry said it would order birth registrars in other cities to stop the practice as well.

Last week, the Italian Senate voted against a measure introduced by the European Commission to make the recognition of same-sex parents mandatory.