The City of Turin's mayor has publicly endorsed full marriage equality for same-sex couples, a declaration made during ceremonies marking a decade since Italy's civil union law took effect—and one that arrives as the nation confronts its status as the lone Western European holdout on the issue.
Why This Matters
• Turin will host EuroPride 2027 from 18–26 June 2027, positioning the city as a symbolic battleground for LGBTQ+ rights across the continent.
• Italy remains the only Western European country without marriage equality, despite 22 European states—from Spain to Greece—already recognizing same-sex marriage.
• Civil unions grant nearly all marital rights except joint adoption and assisted reproduction access, leaving legal gaps that affect thousands of families.
Marriage Equality Advocacy Gains Institutional Voice
Speaking at Palazzo Civico during celebrations honoring the first couples who registered civil unions under the 2016 Cirinnà Law, Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo framed the issue as unfinished business. "Civil unions were an important milestone, but certainly not the finish line," he stated. "We must look toward equal marriage as a further point that allows us to fully embody the values of citizenship and equality that are the heritage of the European Union."
The mayor's remarks align Turin explicitly with a growing chorus of local governments, advocacy organizations, and political figures calling for Italy to close the legal distance between civil unions and full marriage. His declaration came on Europe Day—a symbolic gesture underscoring the contrast between Italy's legal framework and that of most EU member states.
The Legal Landscape: What Civil Unions Leave Out
Italy introduced civil unions on 5 June 2016 through the Cirinnà Law, a legislative compromise that brought Italy in line with much of Europe but stopped short of marriage equality. The law grants registered partners inheritance rights, medical decision-making authority, and family unit recognition—almost all the legal protections of marriage.
But two critical exclusions remain: joint adoption is prohibited for same-sex couples in civil unions, and access to assisted reproductive technology is off-limits. Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation has allowed stepchild adoption within civil unions since June 2016, a workaround that requires a separate legal process and leaves children with only one legally recognized parent until the adoption is finalized.
In May 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that when a lesbian couple has a child via assisted reproduction abroad, both women may be automatically registered as mothers on the birth certificate. The decision represents incremental progress but highlights the patchwork nature of legal recognition for same-sex families in Italy.
A November 2025 ruling by the European Court of Justice further complicated the picture: same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries must be recognized in Italy for freedom of movement and family status purposes, even though Italy registers them domestically as civil unions. The decision underscores the contradiction between Italy's legal framework and the broader European legal order.
Why Italy Stands Alone in Western Europe
By January 2025, 22 European states had legalized same-sex marriage, including neighbours such as Austria, Switzerland, France, and Slovenia. The list spans from the Netherlands—the first country worldwide to legalize it in 2001—to Greece, which enacted marriage equality in 2024.
Italy's outlier status is widely attributed to two entrenched forces: the conservative political establishment and the enduring influence of the Catholic Church. The current government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d'Italia party, has publicly opposed what it terms "LGBT lobby" and "gender ideology," advocating instead for the "natural family" model of one man and one woman.
Despite this resistance at the national level, polling consistently shows majority support among Italians for marriage equality. Yet legislative momentum has stalled. A bill to legalize same-sex marriage was introduced in March 2023 but has not advanced through Parliament. Activists worry that the political climate under the current administration will prevent further progress on LGBTQ+ rights for the foreseeable future.
The Catholic Church continues to define marriage doctrinally as the union of a man and a woman, a position that carries cultural weight even as secularization gradually reshapes Italian society. Observers suggest it may take years before this influence diminishes enough to shift the legislative calculus.
What This Means for Residents and Families
For the estimated thousands of same-sex couples in Italy who have registered civil unions since 2016, the legal distinctions may seem technical—but they have real-world consequences. Couples cannot jointly adopt children, meaning one partner remains legally a stranger to the child unless stepchild adoption is pursued and approved. Access to fertility treatments is unavailable domestically, forcing couples to travel abroad—often to Spain, Belgium, or Denmark—at significant financial and logistical cost.
Children born to these families face delayed legal recognition of their non-biological parent, leaving them vulnerable in emergencies, inheritance disputes, and custody battles if the relationship ends. The process of stepchild adoption can take months or years and varies widely by jurisdiction, depending on the views of local judges.
For foreign nationals living in Italy, the situation is further complicated. A same-sex marriage performed in another EU country is recognized for residency and family reunification purposes but is legally downgraded to a civil union within Italy's borders. This creates a two-tier system: full spousal rights abroad, partial recognition at home.
EuroPride 2027: A Continental Stage for Local Demands
Turin's selection as host of EuroPride 2027 adds urgency and visibility to the marriage equality debate. The event, scheduled for 18–26 June 2027, will be the third time Italy has hosted EuroPride, following editions in Rome in 2000 and 2011.
The European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA), which selected Turin over bids from Vilnius, Torremolinos, and Gloucestershire, has openly criticized Italy's recent backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights. The choice of Turin was seen as a deliberate message to the Italian government at a time when activists fear new restrictions.
The Coordinamento Torino Pride is organizing the event with a budget of €660,000, backed by the City of Turin and the Piedmont Region. The week-long program will include marches, cultural events, conferences, and advocacy actions, with the main parade scheduled for Saturday, 26 June 2027. Organizers plan to involve other Italian cities in preparatory events leading up to the main week.
Alessandro Battaglia, president of the organizing committee, has framed EuroPride 2027 as a platform to advance a political agenda that includes marriage equality and universal access to reproductive rights. Mayor Lo Russo echoed this ambition, stating: "The Turin we want is a city that works every day so that everyone feels equally represented, and it is with this spirit that we prepare to welcome EuroPride next year."
The Path Forward: Optimism Meets Obstruction
At the Palazzo Civico ceremony, couples who registered civil unions in 2016 received commemorative certificates recognizing their relationships' social value. Mayor Lo Russo expressed hope that the anniversary would become an annual fixture, much like golden wedding celebrations.
"This is a day of joy and sharing in which we celebrate what was an important result, but also of struggle and hope, because we want to look to the future with optimism," he said.
Yet optimism confronts a stubborn political reality. The Meloni government has shown no willingness to advance marriage equality, and the legislative calendar offers no clear path forward. The May 2025 referendum proposal to equalize civil unions with marriage faced criticism even from within the LGBTQ+ community for being too technical and potentially counterproductive.
Still, the 10th anniversary of the Cirinnà Law has reignited public conversation. Events across Italy are marking the milestone, and advocates such as Senator Monica Cirinnà—the law's architect—continue to press for full equality. With EuroPride 2027 on the horizon and European court rulings chipping away at legal inconsistencies, the question is no longer whether Italy will adopt marriage equality, but when—and at what cost to the families waiting in the meantime.
