A Minister of the Republic who quotes the Constitution at random is inexcusable. This is the case with Frattini, who knowingly lies when he claims the Constitution does not "permit" gay marriage and insinuates that the only marriage permitted by the Constitution is between a man and a woman.
A self-evident ruling by the Constitutional Court, Ruling 138 of 2010, defines homosexual and lesbian couples as having the same rights as married heterosexual couples and does not highlight any element in the Constitution that would impede the approval of gay marriage.
The Minister's claim that Italy should recognize "the individual rights of natural persons" in a relationship is also dangerous. If so, which ones, and how many?
Granting only a limited number of rights to gay and lesbian couples would spark a very dangerous trend of discrimination.
Frattini fails to grasp that the violation of fundamental human rights (the right to marry and found a family without discrimination is a fundamental right under the European Constitution) goes against the very European legal and cultural civilization that he himself should feel particularly committed to.
The LGBT issue in Italy concerns the very fabric of our country and is a benchmark for the true realization of democracy and the Constitution. Gay marriage is the only path to full equality between heterosexual married couples and same-sex couples.
Instead of quibbling pointlessly about the Constitution, Parliament and Government should finally get moving and catch up with those countries that have achieved democracy through equality.
Paolo Patanè, national president of Arcigay
