- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Civil unions (marriage rights)
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Adoption
- ✖ Second parent adoption only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Public opinion surveys in Italy have pointed to a varied attitude towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 27 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Italy.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Italy is legal.
Current status
Since 1890
Legal federal law
There are no laws against same sex relationships in Italy's Penal Code.
Same-sex marriage in Italy is civil unions (marriage rights).
Current status
Since May 11, 2016
Civil unions (marriage rights) federal law
The law on same sex civil partnerships was adopted on May 11, 2016. The law recognizes same-sex couples as a family and gives them the same rights as marriage, with the exception of joint adoption. However a court can still allow second parent adoption.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Italy is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship federal law
In 2025, Italy’s education ministry passed a ban on the usage of gender-neutral language in school communications, however this does not affect the discussion of LGBT related topics in education.
Right to change legal gender in Italy is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Jul 23, 2015
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis federal law
A Supreme Court decision overruled the surgery requirement to change one's legal gender.
On 15 February 2023, a Court in Trento ruled transgender minors could have their legal gender changed on documents as long as their parents consent and a psychologist has been consulted on the matter.
On 15 February 2023, a Court in Trento ruled transgender minors could have their legal gender changed on documents as long as their parents consent and a psychologist has been consulted on the matter.
Legal, but requires surgery
Before the landmark 2015 decision surgery was required for people to change their legal gender.
Gender-affirming care in Italy is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since Feb 2019
Legal, but restricted for minors federal law
Puberty blockers can be started in transgender youths, followed by gender-affirming hormones (GAH) by the age of 16 years, surgery requires the recipient to be 18 years old and receive the approval of a court.
Until Feb 2019
Legal, but banned for minors federal law
Italy requires individuals to be 18 years old to access gender-affirming care. Additionally, court approval is required for any gender-affirming surgery.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Italy is not legally recognized.
Current status
Since Jun 18, 2024
LGBT discrimination in Italy is varies by region.
Current status
Since Mar 1, 2004
Varies by Region
In Tuscany, Piedmont, Liguria, Marche, Umbria, Sicily, Emilia-Romagna and Campania discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is banned.
Illegal
- Molise 2025
- Puglia 2024
- Campania 2020
- Emilia-Romagna 2019
- Umbria 2019
- Piedmont 2016
- Sicilia 2015
- Marche 2010
- Liguria 2008
- Toscana 2004
No protections
LGBT employment discrimination in Italy is sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT housing discrimination in Italy is varies by region.
Current status
Since Nov 15, 2004
Varies by Region
There are no national protections against discrimination in housing for LGBT individuals; however, some Italian regions have introduced their own protections.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Until Nov 14, 2004
No protections federal law
Before Toscana passed landmark discrimination protections, there were no protections for lgbt people against housing discrimination in Italy.
Same-sex adoption in Italy is second parent adoption only.
Current status
Since Jun 22, 2016
Second parent adoption only federal law
On June 22, 2016 the Court of Cassation stated that same sex couples in a civil union should be able to adopt their partner’s child for the child’s best interest. Same-sex couples can also apply for foster care since no law prohibits it.
Ambiguous
Some courts have recognized foreign joint adoption. Some receptions are also made for step-children. Gay adoption legalizing pending.
Intersex infant surgery in Italy is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is not only not banned in Italy but is reportedly widespread.
Serving openly in military in Italy is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1986
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned federal law
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
Legal
Italy uses a risk-based donor selection system that treats MSM and heterosexual partners equally.
Ambiguous
Italy legalizes blood donations as Health Minister lifts blood ban. However, Italy still denies men who engaged in "risky behaviors"
Conversion therapy in Italy is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
In Italy, there is no legislative ban on conversion therapy. However, the national psychological association officially stated in 2013 that conversion therapy goes strictly against its code of ethics and therefore is not allowed.
Equal age of consent in Italy is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent is 14 with exceptions for various methods of influence and prostitution but no exceptions for homosexual activity.
LGBT Rights by Region
View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Italy.
Equality Rank
#13
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
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Alternative names: Italia (local name)
