Italy court rules in favour of gay couples
2013-01-11 22:27
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Rome - Italy's highest court on Friday said gay couples
can raise children as well as heterosexual couples in a landmark ruling in a
predominantly Catholic country where the issue is a hot-button topic ahead of a
general election in February.
"There is no scientific certainty or concrete
evidence but only prejudice" behind the idea that "living in a
homosexual family is damaging for the growth of a child," the court's
ruling said.
The court's ruling was on a case brought by a man against
his former partner who had custody of their child and is now living in a
lesbian relationship.
The gay rights group Arcigay hailed a "historic
verdict" and said: "Children are brought up by love and not by their
parents' sexual orientation."
The issue of rights for gay couples including marriage
and adoption are frequently debated in Italy, especially in an election season
in which each party is trying to attract as many votes as possible without
angering the Catholic Church.
The Vatican considers the only real family as one based
on marriage between a man and a woman.
Adoptions by gay couples are illegal in Italy.
- SAPA
