Italy rules gay people don’t have the right to marry

An Italian appeals court has ruled that gay people don’t have the right to marry their partners.

The Cassation Court ruled on Monday (February 9) that the Italian Constitution doesn’t contain any written passages that require the government to legalise same-sex marriage.

Despite the disappointing ruling, the court went on to say that LGBT people are entitled to a law that would “ensure” that they have the same rights as unmarried straight couples.

Last month (January), Rome passed a law that approved the creation of a civil union register for same-sex couples. However, the move was condemned Italy’s Interior Minister, who argued that gay couples should not be treated the same as straight couples.

As of 2014, over 150 municipalities and cities throughout Italy have civil union registries which formally recognise same-sex couples.

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