Bologna, July 6, 2016 – "Yesterday, the deadline for issuing the 'bridge' decree for implementing the law on civil unions expired: while the municipalities have received the forms and instructions for registering cohabitations between homosexuals and heterosexuals, which pertains to the second section of the law, there is no sign of the application forms, even provisional, for formalizing civil unions, which instead only concern same-sex couples," stated Gabriele Piazzoni, national secretary of Arcigay. He continues: "The Ministry of the Interior thus places mayors in a serious and paradoxical situation: if, due to the lack of a bridging decree, mayors were to deny a couple the opportunity to celebrate a civil union, they would be effectively denying a right guaranteed by an existing law. But above all, the wait is harsh on those who have been waiting too long to formalize their relationship, out of a more than legitimate desire to celebrate or even because they don't have much time left to prolong the wait. This negligence is therefore cynical and disrespectful and confirms the bad habits of Italian governments, which have always failed to meet deadlines when it comes to rights, even in the most trivial cases. We therefore urge Interior Minister Alfano to promptly produce what is owed and not to engage in yet another unfair political battle by abusing a role, that of minister, which must be relevant to all citizens, not just heterosexual ones. Having noted his colleague's negligence, we also urge the Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando to expedite the drafting and publication of the final implementing decrees, in order to concretely recognize a right that is currently only on paper. Finally, mayors, who represent the point of contact between institutions and citizens, should also take responsibility for this problem and hold the government accountable," concludes Piazzoni.
