Italy's highest appeals court on
Monday rejected same-sex marriage, saying there was nothing in
the Constitution that requires the government to extend marriage
rights to gays.
However, the Cassation Court added that homosexuals have
the right to a "protective" law that would ensure same-sex
couples have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples.
Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions between same-sex
partners are legally recognized in Italy but some cities,
including Rome, have a civil union register.
Late last month, Rome city council also passed an amendment
saying that same-sex marriages contracted abroad are to be
automatically transcribed into the newly created civil union
register.
"This is not only an act of civility and respect...it (puts
us) in line with the main European countries with whom we share
our political and cultural history," Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino
said at the time.
Marino is among a number of Italian mayors who have defied
orders from Interior Minister Angelino Alfano to not include
same-sex marriages contracted abroad in local marriage
registers.
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