LGBT rights in Italy
| LGBT rights in Italy | |
|---|---|
Location of Italy (dark green)
– in Europe (light green & dark grey) |
|
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 1890 |
| Gender identity/expression | Transgender persons allowed to change legal gender |
| Military service | Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly |
| Discrimination protections | Sexual orientation protections in employment (see below) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Civil unions, Same-sex marriages performed abroad legal since 2017 |
| Adoption | Stepchild adoption is legal after the sentence of the Supreme Court of Cassation (Italy) |
– in Europe (light green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (light green) – [Legend]
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Italy have evolved significantly over the course of the last years, although LGBT persons still face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Public opinion on homosexuality has generally been regarded as increasingly culturally liberal, with same-sex unions being legal since June 2016.
Both male and female same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1887, when a new Penal Code was promulgated. A civil unions law passed in May 2016, providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of marriage. Step adoption was however excluded from the bill, and it is currently a matter of judicial debate. The same law provides both same-sex and heterosexual couples which live in an unregistered cohabitation with some limited rights.
Transgender people have been allowed to legally change their legal gender since 1982. Although discrimination regarding sexual orientation in employment has been banned since 2003, no other anti-discrimination laws regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and expression have been enacted. In February 2016, days after the Senate approved the civil union bill, a new poll showed again a large majority in favour of civil unions (69%), a majority for same-sex marriage (56%), but only a minority approving step adoption and LGBT parenting (37%).
Italian unification in 1860 brought together a number of States which had all (with the exception of two) abolished punishment for private, non-commercial and homosexual acts between consenting adults as a result of the Napoleonic Code.
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