Italian President Sergio
Mattarella on Friday promulgated a civil-unions law, the
president's office said. The law, which won final approval on
May 11, extends to committed gay couples some of the same rights
and protections currently enjoyed by heterosexual married
couples, such as the right to receive a deceased partners'
pension. It fills a legislative vacuum, as Italy was the only
western European country not to have either legalised gay
marriage or recognised civil unions between same-sex couples.
The centre right is gearing for a referendum to abrogate the law
despite its having been watered down to remove stepchild
adoption.
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