Italy finally recognises same-sex partnerships
Demonstrators gather in Rome while the vote takes place (Picture: Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM)

Italy has become the latest country to back same-sex civil unions.
The issue has proved highly controversial in the country, with Catholic conservatives fiercely opposing measures to legally recognise gay partnerships.
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Because of this hurdle Italy was the last remaining major Western democracy not to legally recognise committed same-sex partnerships.
But Italian MPs have now voted in favour of civil unions, with 369 for votes to 193 against.
The new civil unions bill will grant committed gay couples some of the same legal rights as heterosexual couples – such as entitlement to a deceased partner’s pension.

Demonstrators wave flags as they take part in a protest against the bill on civil union which was approved recently by the Italian Senate in Rome, Italy. Thousands of supporters of LGBT associations take part in a protest in Rome to support gay rights and against the bill on civil union which was approved recently by the Italian Senate that grant legal recognition to civil unions but a provision to allow gay adoption was dropped from the bill in order to ensure passage in the Senate. Rome, Italy, on March 05, 2016. Photo by Giuseppe Ciccia/Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM
The bill was watered down to gain more support (Picture: Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM)

Posting on Facebook ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote that it was ‘a day of celebration for so many, for anyone who feels that they are finally recognised’.

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However, in order to gain mass appeal the bill was watered down before it reached the voting stage.
For example, a clause that would have allowed people to adopt their same-sex partner’s children was dropped.
Protesters gathered outside in Rome to support same-sex unions, but to also demonstrate against the dropping of the adoption clause.