page_title: LGBT rights in Italy
section_title: LGBT rights groups and public campaigns
hierarchical_section_title: LGBT rights in Italy / LGBT rights groups and public campaigns
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Carro dell'Arcigay di Milano al Gay Pride nazionale di Roma, il 16 giugno 2007. Foto di Giovanni Dall'Orto. English: The float of Arcigay-Milan at the National Gay Pride march in Rome, on June 16 2007. Picture by Giovanni Dall'Orto.
context_page_description: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights in Italy have changed significantly in recent years, although LGBT people may still face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents and LGBT people still face cases of homophobia. Despite this, Italy is considered a gay-friendly country and public opinion on homosexuality is generally regarded as increasingly culturally liberal.
  Same-sex civil unions and unregistered cohabitation have been legally recognized since June 2016.
  In Italy, both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal since 1890, when a new Penal Code was promulgated. A civil unions law passed in May 2016, providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of marriage. Stepchild adoption was, however, excluded from the bill, and it is currently a matter of judicial debate. The same law provides both same-sex and heterosexual couples which live in an unregistered cohabitation with several legal rights. In 2017, the Italian Supreme Court allowed a marriage between two women to be officially recognised.
  Transgender people have been allowed to legally change their gender since 1982.
context_section_description: The major national organization for LGBT rights in Italy is called Arcigay. It was founded in 1985, and has advocated for the recognition of same-sex couples and LGBT rights generally.
  Some openly LGBT politicians include:
  Vladimir Luxuria, first openly transgender member of Parliament in Europe, and the world's second openly transgender MP after New Zealander Georgina Beyer; former deputy for the Communist Refoundation Party
  Nichi Vendola, leader of Left Ecology Freedom and former President of Apulia
  Rosario Crocetta, former President of Sicily and a prominent figure in the Democratic Party
  Paola Concia, former member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party
  Daniele Capezzone, former spokesperson for the People of Freedom party
  Franco Grillini, former member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Democrats of the Left
  Marco Pannella, former member of the European Parliament and leader of the Italian Radical Party (came out after retirement)
  Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, former Minister of Environment and first openly bisexual minister
  Gianmarco Negri, mayor of Tromello, Province of Pavia and first transgender mayor in Italy
  In 2007, an advert showing a baby wearing a wristband label that said "homosexual" caused controversy. The advert was part of a regional government campaign to combat anti-gay discrimination.
  On 8 June 2019, the 25th edition of Roma Pride was held, with the participation of 700,000 people.
caption: Arcigay's float at the 2007 Rome Gay Pride parade
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