Italian Government Loses Battle Over ID Documents For Gay Parents

In a decision that rubs against the country's new right-wing government, a court in Italy has ruled that same-sex parents have the right not to be called “father” and “mother” in the ID papers of their children.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees herself as a defender of Christian values and of what she calls the “traditional family.” Her hard-right Brothers of Italy party is particularly hostile to same-sex parenting.

However, a judge in Rome ruled in favor of a lesbian couple who opposed current rules for identity cards of children, which must include a reference to parents or legal guardians.

Until 2019, they were identified as “parents,” but this was changed by far-right leader and Meloni ally Matteo Salvini, then interior minister. He ordered the wording to be changed to “father” and “mother.”

One of the two women in the court case has given birth to a daughter who was later adopted by her partner, making them both legally recognized mothers. The judge said that calling one of them a “father” made no sense. The verdict is final because Italy's previous government, led by technocrat Mario Draghi, passed on an opportunity to appeal it. It only applies to the specific case, not all same-sex couples.

The judge’s ruling was issued in September but was only publicized on Wednesday by Famiglie Arcobaleno (Rainbow Families), an association that represents same-sex parents that supported the lesbian couple.

“Until the law is changed, it is up to the initiative of individuals” to challenge the ID rules, Egizia Mondini, a spokeswoman for Famiglie Arcobaleno, told Reuters on Thursday, adding that similar cases were pending in the courts.

Meloni's office said in a statement that it would study the ruling “very carefully because it presents obvious implementation problems,” and “puts at risk” the workings of the national ID system.

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