Rome's City Council approved the establishment of a register for civil unions on Thursday in a vote of 32-10 with one abstention, The Local reports:
The long-awaited move was welcomed by (Mayor Ignazio) Marino (pictured) as aligning the Italian capital with European countries that already recognize gay unions.
“Today the capital of Italy gives a signal that, in this city, love is equal for everyone,” the mayor said in an online statement.
A spokesman for city hall was not immediately available to clarify whether same-sex couples will be afford greater rights under the measure. The local-level decision stands at odds with national legislation, which provides no legal framework for gay unions.
The register will automatically include same-sex unions legalized abroad, WIR reports:
The legislation was backed by the Partito Democratico (PD) mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino and his centre-left coalition, the anti-establishment Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) and Sinistra Ecologia Libertà (SEL) but was opposed by centre-right parties Nuovo Centrodestra (NCD), Forza Italia (FI) and Fratelli d'Italia (FdI).
Approvata la delibera delle #UnioniCivili di Roma Capitale. Roma finalmente delibera l'amore. Grazie a tutti! pic.twitter.com/W56uauxyre
— Giulia Tempesta (@GiuliaTempesta) January 28, 2015
