Families breaking this ban could be fined up to €1 million
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY ROGERJZM
In another concerning move by Giorgia Meloni’s government, Italy has made it illegal for couples to go abroad to have a baby through surrogacy. Those who break this law could face two years in prison or a fine of up to €1 million.
Passed by 84 votes to 58 in Italy’s Senate on Wednesday (16 Oct), this new law is just another blow to LGBTQIA families. Last year, Giorgia Meloni’s government began to remove lesbian mothers from birth certificates if they did not biologically carry their child.
For LGBTQIA families, this news is another worrying development under Meloni’s right-wing populist government. At a rally against this new vote, LGBTQIA activist Franco Grillini told Reuters: “If someone has a baby they should be given a medal. Here instead you are sent to jail… if you don’t have children in the traditional way. This is a monstrous law. No country in the world has such a thing.”
Meloni has previously described surrogacy as “a symbol of an abominable society that confuses desire with rights and replaces God with money” according to the BBC.
Alessia Crocini, President of the charity Rainbow Families, has said that 90% of families in Italy who choose surrogacy are heterosexual, and are able to do so in secret. For LGBTQIA families, secrecy is often not an option.
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