Vote for civil partnerships but not same-sex adoption

A law allowing civil partnerships for gay couples was passed by the Italian parliament last week. The legislation did not include any provisions for same-sex adoption, writes Christopher Lamb.

The so-called Cirinnà bill initially proposed a “stepchild adoption” clause allowing same-sex couples to adopt a child as long as one of the partners was the biological parent. But at the last minute this was struck out by the governing coalition led by Matteo Renzi in order to ensure that the civil union part of the legislation would be passed.

To distinguish the new same-sex unions from marriage, the bill also removed the requirement of “faithfulness” on the part of those in civil partnerships. A day earlier Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See Secretary of State, met with Italian politicians, including Mr Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella, for a reception marking the anniversary of the 1929 Lateran Pact. Speaking after the reception the cardinal said it was “essential” that civil partnerships were not equated with marriage and the stepchild adoption provision was in danger of doing this.