Italy Expands Surrogacy Ban to Overseas

Italy's parliament has enacted a law making it illegal for couples to seek surrogacy abroad, a move criticized as targeting LGBTQ couples. The law, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, extends an existing ban on surrogacy in Italy to include those who travel to countries like the U.S. and Canada, imposing penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of up to 1 million euros. Advocates argue that this legislation diminishes children's rights and disproportionately affects same-sex couples, as most Italians who pursue surrogacy are heterosexual but often do so discreetly. Meloni's government has framed the ban as a defense of traditional family values, with statements likening surrogacy to the commodification of human life. Protests erupted outside the Senate, where demonstrators expressed outrage over the implications for Italy's declining birth rate and the stigmatization of non-traditional family structures. Critics, including LGBTQ activists, label the law as archaic and detrimental, with warnings that it may exacerbate the challenges faced by those pursuing parenthood.