Italy

Italy is one of the least progressive countries on LGBTIQ issues in Western Europe. Same-sex couples may enter into civil unions that provide many of the same benefits as marriage, but they cannot adopt. Stepchild adoption remains available, but it is through a lengthy judicial procedure rather than codified legislation. In October 2024, Parliament approved new legislation classifying surrogacy under the umbrella of “universal crimes”—a type of offense typically applied to crimes like genocide or human trafficking—and extending penalties to Italian citizens who seek surrogacy abroad.

Italy bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, but has enacted no other antidiscrimination laws regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics nationwide. Some Italian regions have enacted more comprehensive antidiscrimination laws.

Transgender people may change their legal gender markers if they obtain a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and get court approval. In July 2024, the Constitutional Court declared the requirement of securing court authorization to undergo gender-affirming surgeries unconstitutional. In August 2025, the Council of Ministers of the Meloni government approved a bill restricting access to drugs for transgender minors. Under the pretext of “health protection,” it introduces a national registry, a political ethics committee, and hospital centralization, taking clinical decisions away from doctors and families. As of writing, it has not yet been considered by parliament.

The current government has vowed to tackle the so-called LGBT lobby and gender ideology, including by limiting comprehensive sexuality education in schools. Major political leaders have made comments denigrating same-sex couples.

Most Italians agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry and that transgender people should be able to change their legal gender markers. However, discrimination, violence, and bullying are prevalent. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including rape, assault, murder, and beating, persist and have escalated since the new government assumed power. In 2024, after five years of monitoring the human rights situation in the country, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published a report highlighting an increase in hate speech against LGBTIQ people, as well as refugees and migrants. ​

The earliest demonstrations against homophobia in Italy date back to 1972, and LGBTIQ activists organized the first Pride event in 1994. While Pride has been growing since then, Pride organizers have also faced pushback in recent years, with the surge of anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and the withdrawal of support by some local governments.