From "Il Mattino di Bolzano" 04.04.03 by Felice Espro
De facto couples, yes to the municipal registry
The left wins precious votes from AN, FI, and part of the SVP. Salghetti fails.
The mayor was "rejected" by the city council, the bishop's words going unheeded: a registry for heterosexual and gay civil unions (common-law couples) will be established. Twenty-four of the 43 city councilors present voted against it; 18 voted no; Salghetti was the only one who "did not vote.".
The roll-call vote also allowed the vote to be "read." Of the majority, the votes cast in favor were those from the Democratic Party (DS) (Chisté, Gobbetti, Margheri, Salvadori, and Serafini), the Greens (Hartungen, Rungger, Rabini), part of the SVP (Ausserer, Buratti, Ellecosta, Rottensteiner, Wiedenhofer), and the mixed group (Benedikter, Zanella, Sfondrini, and Spada). The favorable outcome was achieved thanks to the "yes" votes from parts of the opposition: Fabbri Mani (Together for South Tyrol), Galletti (Rifondazione), Pasquali (FI), Pontecorvo, Tomada, Forest, and Sigismondi (AN). The Margherita councilors (Berlanda, Guerriero, Moretti and the mayor Salghetti), part of the SVP (Atz, Clementi, Franchi, Maffei), part of AN (Angeli, Bertolucci, Biancofiore, Gambetti, Menapace, Rullo), part of «Insieme» (Longo, Varalta, Trentini), Unitalia (Piccolin) are against.
The resolution establishes a register of civil unions at a municipal office to be identified within 30 days. This register has no connection or interference with the civil registry. Registration may be requested with a documented application by two people who have cohabited for at least one year due to emotional ties or mutual moral and material support, provided they reside in Bolzano. The office must issue a registration certificate upon request.
THE DEBATE. The session, a continuation of Tuesday's, which had seen a clash between the mayor and the left, had started badly for the proponents of the resolution (first signatory Edi Rabini of the Greens): in the morning, newspapers had published the bishop's appeal, opposing the registry; at the beginning of the session, however, the secretary general had outlined his opposing technical and administrative opinion. Secretary Arman first highlighted "terminological uncertainties" in the reasoning and in the deliberative section, as the difference between a registry and a list was not specified. He then objected to the citation of the Tuscany Regional Administrative Court ruling, which, according to the authors of the resolution, validates the registry, but according to the secretary, confirms the impossibility of establishing it. Finally, Arman noted that the Municipality of Florence, the first to establish the registry, "has just ten registered couples, and the Municipality of Arezzo only one." Rabini, urged to convert the resolution into a motion, insisted on bringing it to a vote at all costs. During the debate, some attacks on Arman were noted, "for even providing an unsolicited political opinion." The mayor, in his speech, reiterated his approval for a potential motion urging the national and provincial governments to regulate the matter, but not for the registry, "which is even more discriminatory against gays." The mayor himself admitted to "having used unflattering language in the previous council meeting," when he called the resolution "hot air devoid of substance" and urged councilors to fight discrimination, ignoring the civil union registry, which guarantees no rights.
The vote, in the end, was marked by freedom of conscience, not party directives. Applause greeted the "yes" vote.
COMMENTS. In practice, registration does not confer any rights for heterosexual or gay de facto couples. The topic will be discussed at a conference scheduled for April 11. But for Ingrid Facchinelli, president of the Arcigay Centaurus association, which promoted the initiative, "it's a significant step forward. It seemed impossible to get the approval of the chamber, after certain absurd attacks and the general secretary's opposition. But we've achieved our goal: starting a discussion on these issues. Compared to four or five years ago, the attitude towards us has changed somewhat. I can say I'm a lesbian without necessarily being judged badly. Now the battle is moving to the provincial level, with a bill submitted to Prime Minister Alessandra Zendron. Much has been done, much remains to be done. Especially in practical terms, regarding the rights of homosexual partners in cases of inheritance or contributions from organizations. But now we have the courage and the will to come out.".
Following this occasion Arcigay Centaurus organized a public conference for Friday 11 April at 6pm at the 'Antico Municipio',
at Via Portici 30 in Bolzano.
Homosexuality, law and society
A look at the legal and social aspects of homosexuality
Speakers will include:
Mimma Battisti MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR
Alessandra Zendron PRESIDENT OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
Titti de Simone PARLIAMENTARY
Marcella Pirrone JURIST
Don Paolo Renner