Latest news with #LGBTgroups
Medscape
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Medscape
Lesbian Mothers Win Legal Status in Italy IVF Ruling
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's Constitutional Court said on Thursday that same-sex female couples who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) abroad can both be legally recognised as parents in Italy, even if one is not the biological mother. The ruling is likely to be welcomed by Italian LGBT groups who have repeatedly clashed with the conservative government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a self-declared enemy of what she and her allies call the "LGBT lobby". The court found that denying legal recognition to the non-biological mother violates the constitutional principles of equality and personal identity and violates the child's rights to care, education and emotional continuity from both parents. The decision strikes down part of a 2004 law which did not allow both women in a same-sex couple to be registered as legal mothers, even if both consented to the procedure. Marilena Grassadonia, an LGBT rights activist from the Italian Left opposition party, said the ruling marked a "historic day" which "restores dignity and serenity to the many rainbow families who live in our country". The case was brought by a court in the Tuscan city of Lucca, which questioned the legality of denying "full dual parenthood" in a case involving a lesbian couple. The judges noted that confusion over the law had led to inconsistent rulings in various courts. This has left individual mayors, who control the civil registry in their municipalities, to make differing decisions in comparable cases. In some cases both mothers were listed on the child's birth certificate; in others, the non-biological mother was excluded. "These divergent outcomes reflect a shifting social reality to which the legislature has yet to respond," the referral said. The ruling did not alter Italy's current restrictions on access to IVF, which is still limited to heterosexual couples, but marked a shift towards the recognition of LGBTQ parenting rights. In a separate verdict also released on Thursday, the Constitutional Court said rules preventing single women from accessing IVF were not unconstitutional, but said they could be changed if a political will for it emerged in parliament. (Editing by Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
CNN
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Lesbian mothers win legal status in Italy IVF ruling
Italy's Constitutional Court said on Thursday that same-sex female couples who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) abroad can both be legally recognized as parents in Italy, even if one is not the biological mother. The ruling is likely to be welcomed by Italian LGBT groups who have repeatedly clashed with the conservative government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a self-declared enemy of what she and her allies call the 'LGBT lobby.' The court found that denying legal recognition to the non-biological mother violates the constitutional principles of equality and personal identity and violates the child's rights to care, education and emotional continuity from both parents. The decision strikes down part of a 2004 law which did not allow both women in a same-sex couple to be registered as legal mothers, even if both consented to the procedure. Marilena Grassadonia, an LGBT rights activist from the Italian Left opposition party, said the ruling marked a 'historic day' which 'restores dignity and serenity to the many rainbow families who live in our country.' The case was brought by a court in the Tuscan city of Lucca, which questioned the legality of denying 'full dual parenthood' in a case involving a lesbian couple. The judges noted that confusion over the law had led to inconsistent rulings in various courts. This has left individual mayors, who control the civil registry in their municipalities, to make differing decisions in comparable cases. In some cases both mothers were listed on the child's birth certificate; in others, the non-biological mother was excluded. 'These divergent outcomes reflect a shifting social reality to which the legislature has yet to respond,' the referral said. The ruling did not alter Italy's current restrictions on access to IVF, which is still limited to heterosexual couples, but marked a shift towards the recognition of LGBTQ parenting rights. In a separate verdict also released on Thursday, the Constitutional Court said rules preventing single women from accessing IVF were not unconstitutional, but said they could be changed if a political will for it emerged in parliament.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Lesbian mothers win legal status in Italy IVF ruling
Italy's Constitutional Court said on Thursday that same-sex female couples who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) abroad can both be legally recognized as parents in Italy, even if one is not the biological mother. The ruling is likely to be welcomed by Italian LGBT groups who have repeatedly clashed with the conservative government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a self-declared enemy of what she and her allies call the 'LGBT lobby.' The court found that denying legal recognition to the non-biological mother violates the constitutional principles of equality and personal identity and violates the child's rights to care, education and emotional continuity from both parents. The decision strikes down part of a 2004 law which did not allow both women in a same-sex couple to be registered as legal mothers, even if both consented to the procedure. Marilena Grassadonia, an LGBT rights activist from the Italian Left opposition party, said the ruling marked a 'historic day' which 'restores dignity and serenity to the many rainbow families who live in our country.' The case was brought by a court in the Tuscan city of Lucca, which questioned the legality of denying 'full dual parenthood' in a case involving a lesbian couple. The judges noted that confusion over the law had led to inconsistent rulings in various courts. This has left individual mayors, who control the civil registry in their municipalities, to make differing decisions in comparable cases. In some cases both mothers were listed on the child's birth certificate; in others, the non-biological mother was excluded. 'These divergent outcomes reflect a shifting social reality to which the legislature has yet to respond,' the referral said. The ruling did not alter Italy's current restrictions on access to IVF, which is still limited to heterosexual couples, but marked a shift towards the recognition of LGBTQ parenting rights. In a separate verdict also released on Thursday, the Constitutional Court said rules preventing single women from accessing IVF were not unconstitutional, but said they could be changed if a political will for it emerged in parliament.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Lesbian mothers win legal status in Italy IVF ruling
ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - Italy's Constitutional Court said on Thursday that same-sex female couples who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) abroad can both be legally recognised as parents in Italy, even if one is not the biological mother. The ruling is likely to be welcomed by Italian LGBT groups who have repeatedly clashed with the conservative government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a self-declared enemy of what she and her allies call the "LGBT lobby". The court found that denying legal recognition to the non-biological mother violates the constitutional principles of equality and personal identity and violates the child's rights to care, education and emotional continuity from both parents. The decision strikes down part of a 2004 law which did not allow both women in a same-sex couple to be registered as legal mothers, even if both consented to the procedure. Marilena Grassadonia, an LGBT rights activist from the Italian Left opposition party, said the ruling marked a "historic day" which "restores dignity and serenity to the many rainbow families who live in our country". The case was brought by a court in the Tuscan city of Lucca, which questioned the legality of denying "full dual parenthood" in a case involving a lesbian couple. The judges noted that confusion over the law had led to inconsistent rulings in various courts. This has left individual mayors, who control the civil registry in their municipalities, to make differing decisions in comparable cases. In some cases both mothers were listed on the child's birth certificate; in others, the non-biological mother was excluded. "These divergent outcomes reflect a shifting social reality to which the legislature has yet to respond," the referral said. The ruling did not alter Italy's current restrictions on access to IVF, which is still limited to heterosexual couples, but marked a shift towards the recognition of LGBTQ parenting rights. In a separate verdict also released on Thursday, the Constitutional Court said rules preventing single women from accessing IVF were not unconstitutional, but said they could be changed if a political will for it emerged in parliament.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour may cancel women's conference over trans ruling chaos
The Supreme Court ruling that sex in equality law refers to biological sex is said to have prompted chaos within the party, with several members of the NEC and LGBT groups within the party openly criticising it. In contrast, the Government will respect the judgment and it is understood that the party has vowed to comply with the statutory guidance when published. Rosie Duffield, who sits as an independent MP after quitting Labour following years of criticism over her views on gender, said she was 'outraged' but 'not surprised' the party was recommending cancelling the women's conference. 'This shows that absolutely nothing has changed in the Labour party,' she said. 'It is fully immersed in the culture of self-identification and intent on pushing through trans rights over women's rights.' The NEC documents set out the party's 'initial legal analysis' of April's judgment and the impact it has on 'sex-based rights and protections' in equality laws 'including the option for organisations to implement positive action provisions related to biological sex only'. 'Existing positive action' Positive action refers to legal steps taken to address the under-representation of certain groups – such as women-only shortlists for boards – which was the issue at the centre of the Supreme Court case. The NEC advice notes that there will be 'significant scrutiny' on how Labour responds to the judgment and the party could face legal action if it gets it wrong. Positive action measures run by the party include only having women on the National Labour Party Women's Committee and women-only shortlists. The advice notes: 'Historically, these provisions have often operated on the basis of self-identification. 'Given the judgment has now clarified that references to women in the [Equality] Act relate to biological sex at birth, these existing positive action provisions can now only be lawfully applied on the basis of biological sex at birth. 'To do otherwise would expose the party to significant risk of direct and indirect discrimination claims succeeding.' 'Significant risk' It notes that the NEC 'urgently' needs to make a decision on the National Women's Conference 2025, due to be held a day before the main party conference in September. 'National Women's Conference constitutes a positive action measure, and following the judgment there is a significant risk of legal challenge to the event as it currently operates. 'In addition to the legal risk, we can anticipate that due to the visibility of the event and the proximity to the judgment, there may be protests, direct action and heightened security risks to staff and attendees should the event go ahead. 'This would also represent a political risk which would be likely to feature prominently throughout conference week.' It concludes: 'In light of the legal and political risks described above, it is recommended that the NEC AGREES to postpone National Women's Conference 2025 pending the wider review of positive action measures.' It also notes that the judgment 'confirms' it is 'unlawful' to operate all women shortlists and if trans women are included on them 'a man who is excluded from the shortlist could successfully claim for direct sex discrimination'. The NEC is advised to agree that 'pending a wider review, all positive action measures relating to women in the party's rules and procedures shall be interpreted on the basis of biological sex at birth'. A separate option would be to 'suspend all positive action measures relating to women' but the document notes this is 'not our recommended option as we are of the view that it would be a disproportionate response'.
