The EU Parliament bans conversion therapy, Piazzoni (Arcigay): "Europe is shining a spotlight on the true tormentors of adolescence. Now Italy must translate the ban into a proposed law."“
Bologna, April 30, 2026 The European Parliament has voted by a large majority to ban so-called "conversion therapies" in all member states, officially recognizing these practices as human rights violations. "This is a historic move," commented Gabriele Piazzoni, Secretary General of Arcigay, "that comes after years of campaigns and signature drives promoted by dozens of European organizations, including Arcigay itself, with the goal of putting an end to pseudoscientific treatments that cause physical and psychological suffering to thousands of people every year." "The European Parliament's vote," Piazzoni continues, "is an unmistakable signal: so-called conversion therapies are violence, practices that humiliate, torture, and destroy lives. Europe has chosen to stand with LGBTQIA+ people. Italy, unfortunately, is still stuck. In our country, the only bill prohibiting these practices was introduced several years ago by then-Senator Sergio Lo Giudice, honorary president of Arcigay, but it was never even discussed. Today, Italy needs a new bill that fully embraces the European approach. While the Meloni government raises the specter of gender and attempts to isolate young people through the Valditara decree, Europe is shining a spotlight on the true tormentors of adolescence, who require precisely that isolation to operate, to perform their exorcisms and torture. We call on the Italian Parliament to immediately reactivate the legislative process: there is no more time to waste," Piazzoni concludes.
