Tech & Rights

7 in 10 Italians Say Discrimination Against LGBTI People Is Widespread

Although 70 percent of Italians see extensive discrimination based on sexual orientation, a similar number agree that LGBTI people should have the same rights as heterosexual people.

by Dóra Görgei
(Image: Jerome Naselli)
In the annual review of ILGA-Europe, Italy is in 35th place out of 49 countries, with a score of 19.75 percent. The result is disturbing and proves that Italy is way behind many other EU states on the human rights situation of LGBTI people.

Italy’s poor performance in connection with the situation of LGBTI people can be seen in the events that occurred in 2015. Homophobic speech remained an immense problem in Italy and became common in different areas of life, even in politics.

Critical words have been stated by MP Paola Binetti, a Christian Democratic member, who said that civil unions were not necessary as gay and lesbian people should just change their gender identity instead. Homophobic and transphobic violence and abuse had its own victims, resulting in a murder and heavy beatings of LGBTI people. In education policy, guidelines were issued to prevent bullying, but later on these measures were dropped from the National LGBT Strategy.

Court decisions

Most of the change for LGBTI people has been initiated by courts, which recently ruled on issues such as shared custody rights for non-biological parents, requirements for legal gender recognition, granting equal parenting responsibilities to same-sex partners, step child adoption and recognition of marriages conducted in other EU countries.

The European Court of Human Rights has helped bring change for LGBTI people in Italy through its decision in the Oliari case.

The landmark European Court of Human Rights case of Oliari v. Italy acknowledged the right of same-sex couples to be legally recognized in Italy for the first time. The decision of the court speeded up the passage of Italy's civil unions bill, which was finally approved and became law on May 11.

Change in public opinion

According to an opinion poll in Italy, 51 percent of respondents supported equal marriage and 67 percent said they were in favor of civil unions.

According to the Eurobarometer, more than 71 percent of people believe that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread, but a similar number agree that LGBTI people should have the same rights as heterosexual people.

Despite slow progress from the state, 70% of Italian people believe that LGBTI people should have the same rights as heterosexual people.  (REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico)

Malta: a role model

Compared to other countries, Malta, the smallest EU country, landed in first place in the rankings, with an overall score of 87.75 percent. The human rights situation of LGBTI people in Malta is considered the best because of an irresistible combination of determined activism and ground-breaking legislation.

With the revolutionary Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Characteristics Act, Malta became the first country in the world to prohibit any unnecessary surgical procedure on the sex characteristics of a person without their consent.


ILGA-Europe is an international NGO with over 400 member organizations working for equality and human rights for LGBTI people. It monitors and influences the adoption of EU legislation and aims to bring the voices of LGBTI people and NGOs into the negotiations on new legislation, debates. Furthermore it strengthens the European LGBTI movement by providing trainings and support to its member organizations. You can read the full report here.

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