The Italian Supreme Court has upheld the rights of a same-sex couple raising a child, dictating that the child's identity document must reflect the terminology "parents" rather than the traditional designations of “father” and “mother.” This decision follows the Ministry of the Interior’s recent efforts to revert to more conventional definitions under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
The ruling came in response to an appeal made by the Ministry against earlier court decisions that granted the same-sex couple, who remain anonymous, the right to have their child’s identity document list both as parents. Importantly, the court clarified that it is not necessary for one of the parents to be identified as a "father," a significant departure from the previous norms.
In its rationale, the Supreme Court deemed the 2019 regulations enacted by then-Minister Matteo Salvini as “irrational and discriminatory,” signalling a judicial repudiation of the restrictive definitions that had sought to undermine the diversity of family structures in contemporary Italy. The justices asserted that the decree was “unfounded and impossible to apply,” highlighting the legal inconsistencies presented by the Ministry's position.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and family recognition in Italy, particularly as the country grapples with issues related to same-sex parenting and the legal status of diverse family units. The court's decision not only reinforces the validity of same-sex couples in familial roles but also sets a precedent for future considerations regarding inclusive language in legal documentation.
Source: Noah Wire Services