'Alfano will speak out against gay nuptials'
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano will speak out against the “illegitimate” decision by some local politicians to register their citizens’ foreign gay nuptials, a member of his New Centre-Right party has said.
It won’t be long before Alfano intervenes to “put right an illegitimate act”, said Valentina Castaldini, a New Centre-Right (NCD) councillor.
The Bologna politician specifically drew on the decision by the city’s mayor, Virginio Merola, to “add gay foreign nuptials to city’s halls official register,” La Repubblica reported.
Merola’s decision followed that of Naples city council earlier this year, which affects citizens who wed in countries where gay marriage is legal.
READ MORE: Bologna to register foreign gay nuptials
The NCD is opposed to gay marriage, although Alfano said in June he was open to discussing the legalization of same-sex civil unions.
In Bologna, the party has strongly opposed the mayor’s decision, with Castaldini taking a petition to the magistrates.
But despite Magistrate Ennio Mario Sodano calling for the mayor’s move to be postponed, the registration of gay marriages continues, the newspaper said.
The defiant mayor said he will “go ahead” with the registrations. “Just yesterday I registered a foreign [gay] marriage and will continue to apply this European right,” he was quoted as saying.
Awaiting intervention from Alfano, Castaldini said she hopes ministerial support will lead to a national standard being set. She has the backing of the Forza Italia party, with councillor Michele Facci describing the situation as “extremely serious”.
But Vincenzo Brana, president of rights organization Arcigay, suggested the NCD councillor was out of touch.
“Does she live in an igloo? Doesn’t she see that there are thousands of gay couples that have families and bring up children? What sense does it have to deny these people dignity and rights?” he was quoted as saying.
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It won’t be long before Alfano intervenes to “put right an illegitimate act”, said Valentina Castaldini, a New Centre-Right (NCD) councillor.
The Bologna politician specifically drew on the decision by the city’s mayor, Virginio Merola, to “add gay foreign nuptials to city’s halls official register,” La Repubblica reported.
Merola’s decision followed that of Naples city council earlier this year, which affects citizens who wed in countries where gay marriage is legal.
READ MORE: Bologna to register foreign gay nuptials
The NCD is opposed to gay marriage, although Alfano said in June he was open to discussing the legalization of same-sex civil unions.
In Bologna, the party has strongly opposed the mayor’s decision, with Castaldini taking a petition to the magistrates.
But despite Magistrate Ennio Mario Sodano calling for the mayor’s move to be postponed, the registration of gay marriages continues, the newspaper said.
The defiant mayor said he will “go ahead” with the registrations. “Just yesterday I registered a foreign [gay] marriage and will continue to apply this European right,” he was quoted as saying.
Awaiting intervention from Alfano, Castaldini said she hopes ministerial support will lead to a national standard being set. She has the backing of the Forza Italia party, with councillor Michele Facci describing the situation as “extremely serious”.
But Vincenzo Brana, president of rights organization Arcigay, suggested the NCD councillor was out of touch.
“Does she live in an igloo? Doesn’t she see that there are thousands of gay couples that have families and bring up children? What sense does it have to deny these people dignity and rights?” he was quoted as saying.
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