Same-sex activity legal nationwide since 1890, with an equal age of consent;[1] legal in Tuscany since 1853 (as the Grand Duchy of Tuscany),[2][3] in Sicily since 1819 (as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)[4][5] and in Naples since 1810 (as the Kingdom of Naples)[4][5][6]
Gender identity
Transgender people allowed to change legal gender since 1982
Military
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly
Discrimination protections
Sexual orientation protections in employment (see below); discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity banned in street advertisement since 2021; sexual orientation and gender identity protections in the provision of goods and services at a regional level in Tuscany, Piedmont, Liguria, Marche, Umbria, Sicily, Emilia-Romagna and Campania
Family rights
Recognition of relationships
Civil unions since 2016[7]
Adoption
Stepchild adoption since 2016.
Same-sex couples are allowed to foster children.
Part of a series on
LGBT rights
Lesbian ∙ Gay ∙ Bisexual ∙ Transgender
Overview
Rights
Movements
Student
Germany (pre-1933)
United States
Intersex rights
Social attitudes
Transgender rights
Legal status
Movement
Aspects
Decriminalization
Marriage
Legal status
Timeline
Migration
Military service
Organizations
List
Parenting
Adoption
Pinkwashing
Relationship
Recognition
Union
Opposition
Censorship
Conversion therapy
Corrective rape
Discrimination
Criminalization of homosexuality
Execution
Opposition
Propaganda
Rhetoric
Violence
Organizations
LGBT
Bisexual
Intersex
Community centre
Medical
Military and Veteran
Rights
Transgender
United States
Religious
Christian
Jewish
Muslim
Politics
Anarchist
Bisexual politics
Communism
Conservatism
Ecology
Homonationalism
Liberation
Libertarianism
Nationalism
Radicalism
Sexual revolution
Socialism
Transfeminism
Political parties affiliates
Political ideologies regarding LGBT
Timeline
Years
List
Category
Related
Discrimination
Freedom Index
Human rights
Minority rights
LGBT people in prison
LGBT portal
v
t
e
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Italy significantly advanced in the 21st century, although LGBT people still face various challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, despite public opinion being increasingly liberal and in favor of LGBT rights. According to ILGA-Europe's 2021 report, the status of LGBT rights in Italy is below the standards of other Western European countries – such as still not recognizing same-sex marriage, lacking nationwide discrimination protections for goods and services, as well as not granting to same-sex couples full parental rights, such as joint adoption and IVF.[8] Italy and Japan are the only G7 nations where same-sex marriages are not permitted.[9]
In Italy both male and female same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1890, when a new penal code was promulgated. A civil union law was passed in May 2016, providing same-sex couples with all of the rights of marriage except for joint adoption rights. The law also recognizes same-sex couples as a family. Stepchild adoption was excluded from the bill, but in June 2016 the Supreme Court of Cassation stated that courts can allow a couple in a civil union to adopt their stepchildren.[10] The same law provides both same-sex and heterosexual couples which live in an unregistered cohabitation with several legal rights.[11][12]
Transgender people have been allowed to legally change their 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 nationwide, although some Italian regions have enacted far more comprehensive anti-discrimination laws. In 2023, a new poll showed a large majority in favour of civil unions (70.1%), a majority for same-sex marriage (65.2%), and also for adoption by same-sex couples (51.4%).[13]
^State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults Archived 27 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
^"Codice penale per il Granducato di Toscana (1853)" (PDF). giustizia.it. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^Emilio Dolcini (14 May 2012). "Omosessualità, omofobia, diritto penale" (PDF). statoechiese.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ ab"Codice Penale 1861 (esteso alle province siciliane e napoletane)" (PDF). giustizia.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ ab"Codice per lo Regno delle Due Sicilie. Leggi della procedura ne' giudizj penali con note e dilucidazioni (1819)". unipd.it. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"Le leggi penali di Giuseppe Bonaparte per il Regno di Napoli (1808)". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^"XVII Legislatura - XVII Legislatura - Documenti - Temi dell'Attività parlamentare". www.camera.it. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^"Country Ranking - Rainbow Europe". rainbow-europe.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
^McCurry, Justin (2 April 2023). "'It's like we don't exist': Japan faces pressure to allow same-sex marriage". The Observer. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^"Stepchild adoption, Cassazione: sì in casi particolari". 22 June 2016.
^"Blog | Unioni civili, matrimoni e convivenze. Ecco cosa cambia in un grafico". 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^"Blog | Monica Cirinnà: con le unioni civili è appena iniziato il cammino verso l'uguaglianza". 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^"Atlante Politico 54 - febbraio 2016 - Atlante politico - Demos & Pi". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
and 28 Related for: LGBT rights in Italy information
transgender (LGBT) rightsinItaly significantly advanced in the 21st century, although LGBT people still face various challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents...
Yusuf Abdullahi LGBT portal Somalia portal Transgender portal LGBTin Islam LGBTrightsin Africa LGBTrightsin Somaliland Human rightsin Somalia Capital...
transgender (LGBT) history inItaly. 5th millennium BC - Examples of homosexual eroticism in Upper Paleolithic or Mesolithic European art in Sicily. In Addaura...
towards LGBTrights have evolved radically in the 21st century. In the 19th and 20th century, communist parties and Marxist–Leninist states varied on LGBT rights;...
and Italy has education on human rights. In addition, Italy has specific human rights for women, children and LGBT people. Contributing significant efforts...
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rightsin India have expanded in the 21st century, although Indian LGBT citizens still face legal and social...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Morocco face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female forms...
transgender (LGBT) people in Japan have fewer legal protections than in most other developed countries, although some developments towards stronger rights have...
(LGBT) rightsin Spain rank among the highest in the world, having undergone significant advancements within recent decades. Among ancient Romans in Spain...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rightsin the United States are among the most advanced in the world, with public opinion and jurisprudence...
and transgender (LGBT) people in Eritrea face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexual acts are illegal in Eritrea; typically...
LGBT is an initialism that stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender". It may refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual, non-heteroromantic, or...
A list of notable LGBTrights activists who have worked to advance LGBTrights by political change, legal action or publication. Ordered by country, alphabetically...
and transgender (LGBT) rightsin Brazil rank among the highest in the world. Same-sex couples in Brazil have enjoyed the same rights guaranteed to heterosexual...
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Iraq face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Openly LGBT individuals are subject to criminal...
gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Ukraine face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT individuals; historically, the prevailing...
(LGBT) rightsin Cuba have significantly varied throughout modern history. Cuba is now considered generally progressive, with vast improvements in the...
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Albania face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, although LGBT people are protected under...
transgender (LGBT) rightsin Vatican City is based on the Italian Zanardelli Code of 1889, since the founding of the sovereign state of the Vatican City in 1929...
legalised in 2009, but same-sex marriage remains banned. The Hungarian government has passed legislation that restricts the civil rights of LGBT Hungarians...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rightsin Switzerland are some of the most progressive by world standards. Social attitudes and the legal...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rightsin Germany rank among the highest in the world; having evolved significantly over the course of...
transgender (LGBT) rights are widely diverse in Europe per country. 22 of the 38 countries that have legalised same-sex marriage worldwide are situated in Europe...
transgender (LGBT) rightsin Cyprus have evolved in recent years, but LGBT people still face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both...
transgender (LGBT) rightsin Malta rank among the highest in the world. Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the rights of the LGBT community...
regard to the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens. Nevertheless, the country has made significant changes inLGBTrights legislation...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Somaliland face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Somaliland has been a Muslim-majority...