Italy has passed a groundbreaking law banning all overseas surrogacy, a move seen as a direct attempt to curb the practice among LGBT couples. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s leadership, the government has closed the loophole that allowed Italians to recruit surrogate mothers from abroad. Now, anyone involved in surrogacy arrangements outside the country could face severe penalties, including fines and prison time.
The law comes amid growing concerns about the exploitation of surrogate mothers and the commercialization of childbirth. Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, has long advocated for traditional family structures, believing that children should be raised by both a mother and a father.
Meloni’s government is confident that the law applies to all Italians and is not intended to single out any group. Supporters of the ban argue that the surrogacy industry, particularly when used by LGBT couples, commodifies children and turns them into props for social media attention. They also point to research suggesting that children raised in traditional families fare better in the long term.
The ban has sparked fierce debate, with some arguing that Italy’s population decline justifies the use of surrogacy to increase birthrates. But the government has pushed back against this narrative, emphasizing the importance of stable, traditional families over simply having more babies.
As Italy moves forward with this new law, the country finds itself at the center of a broader debate about the ethics of surrogacy, the rights of LGBT individuals, and the role of traditional values in modern society.