Italy has taken a significant step backward for LGBTQ rights by passing a new law that bans citizens from seeking surrogacy abroad. The legislation, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government, specifically aims to uphold “traditional family values” by making it nearly impossible for LGBTQ couples to become legal parents. The law extends the country’s already strict surrogacy ban, which has been in place since 2004, to include those who travel to countries where the practice is legal, such as the United States and Canada.
Meloni’s social agenda has continually targeted the LGBTQ community since her rise to power in 2022, with the promotion of a vision of family that excludes many. The new law imposes severe penalties for those seeking surrogacy abroad, including up to two years of imprisonment and fines reaching 1 million euros. Activists argue that this move disproportionately affects same-sex couples, as heterosexual couples often use surrogacy in secret, while LGBTQ families cannot hide their situation as easily.
The legislation is seen as part of a broader attack on LGBTQ rights in Italy, which includes curtailing adoption options and preventing legal recognition of families formed through non-traditional means. Demonstrators gathered near the Senate on the day of the vote to protest the bill, accusing the government of perpetuating discrimination against LGBTQ people under the guise of protecting the “traditional family.”
This new law will further marginalize LGBTQ families who are already struggling for equal recognition in Italian society. While surrogacy remains an option for heterosexual couples who can keep their arrangements private, LGBTQ couples are left without any legal avenues to pursue parenthood. With Italy’s birthrate hitting a record low in 2023, many argue that the government should be supporting all families, not punishing them.