- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Civil unions
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- Ambiguous
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Ambiguous
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until Jun 26, 2019
Until 2015
Until 2001
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
Ranked #8 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(10%) Against
Support (83%)
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
Ranked #19 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(36%) Disagree
Agree (59%)
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors ?
Ranked #21 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(11.8%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (81.6%)
Justifiability of homosexuality ?
Ranked #20 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(22.1%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (43.7%)
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents ?
Ranked #37 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(42.2%) Disagree
Agree (26.9%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019) ?
Ranked #10 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
(20%) No
Yes (75%)
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against transgender people (European Union) ?
Ranked #28 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(66%) Widespread
Rare (23%)
Acceptance of same-sex relationships (European Union) ?
Ranked #15 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(34%) Disagree
Agree (59%)
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against sexual orientation (European Union) ?
Ranked #26 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(69%) Widespread
Rare (26%)
Support for transgender people changing legal gender (European Union) ?
Ranked #19 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(42%) No
Yes (43%)
History
Homosexual activity in Italy is legal.
Current status
Since 1890
Since 1890
Legal
No laws against homosexual relationships anywhere in Italy's Penal Code
Same-sex marriage in Italy is civil unions.
Current status
Since May 11, 2016
Since May 11, 2016
Civil unions
Italy's parliament has backed same-sex civil unions. MPs in the lower house voted 369-193 for the government, ensuring that the civil unions bill will become law. Same sex marriage pending.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Italy is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Italy, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Italy is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Italy does not yet legally recognize non-binary identities.
However, a breaking decision on March 7, 2022, had the Italian court rule in favor of a non-binary person to have their gender recognized.
They are currently the only example of this recognition.
However, a breaking decision on March 7, 2022, had the Italian court rule in favor of a non-binary person to have their gender recognized.
They are currently the only example of this recognition.
LGBT employment discrimination in Italy is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 2003
Since Jul 9, 2003
Sexual orientation only
Discrimination protection is afforded on the grounds of sexual orientation
LGBT housing discrimination in Italy is no protections.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 2003
Since Jul 9, 2003
No protections
Currently, only employment discrimination is in place.
Same-sex adoption in Italy is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2019
Since Jun 26, 2019
Ambiguous
Adoption and foster care are regulated by the Legge 184/1983. Adoption is in principle permitted only to married couples who must be of the opposite sex. According to Italian law, there are no restrictions on foster care. In a limited number of situations, the law provides for "adoption in particular cases" by a single person, however, and this has been interpreted by some courts, including on the appeal court level, to include the possibility of stepchild adoption for unmarried (opposite-sex and same-sex) couples.
Until Jun 26, 2019
Illegal
Some courts have recognized foreign joint adoption. Some receptions are also made for step-children. Gay adoption legalizing pending.
Until 2015
Illegal
The couple applying for adoption must be a married, different sex couple. Custody has been granted to a same-sex parent on the basis of the "child's best interest," but this is very rare.
Serving openly in military in Italy is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since Dec 22, 1947
Since Dec 22, 1947
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Until 1986, "sexual deviance" was a reason for exclusion for military service. At that time, some men claimed to be homosexual to avoid the draft. Lesbians have never been banned from the Italian military since women were first allowed to serve in 2000. Since 2010, discrimination against gays and lesbians in military service is banned, but the situation for transgender people is unclear. The organization Polis Aperta estimates that 5 to 10% of Italians in uniformed service (military or police) are LGB. Despite the ban on discrimination, some service personnel unfortunately face harassment or violence because of their sexual orientation. Unfortunately transgenders have not yet gained the right to military service in Italy
Blood donations by MSMs in Italy is legal.
Current status
Since 2001
Since 2001
Legal
Italy uses a risk-based donor selection system that treats MSM and heterosexual partners equally.
Until 2001
Ambiguous
Italy legalizes blood donations as Health Minister lifts blood ban. However, Italy still denies men who engaged in "risky behaviors"
Equal age of consent in Italy is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent: 14
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Alternative names: Italia (local name)
