Italy has made headlines by passing a law that bans all overseas surrogacy, with the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni taking a hard stance against the practice, particularly among LGBT couples. The law closes a loophole that allowed Italian citizens to bypass the country’s existing surrogacy ban by seeking surrogate mothers abroad.
Meloni’s administration has justified the new ban as a necessary step to protect both women and children from being exploited. Violators of the law face serious consequences, including fines up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to two years. While the law applies to all Italians, critics argue it disproportionately affects gay and transgender individuals, many of whom have used surrogacy to start families.
Supporters of the law argue that surrogacy, especially when used by LGBT couples, reduces children to commodities and undermines the traditional family structure. Meloni, a self-described Christian mother, has frequently stated her belief that children should be raised by both a mother and a father. Her administration sees the ban as a way to curb what they view as a troubling trend of children being used for social media clout.
Critics claim the law is discriminatory and violates the rights of LGBT Italians to have families. However, supporters argue that children’s well-being should be the primary concern, citing studies that suggest children raised in traditional households fare better in terms of mental and emotional health.
The debate over this law comes at a time when Italy is grappling with a declining birthrate. While some argue that surrogacy could help address the population crisis, Meloni’s government is taking a different approach — prioritizing the stability of traditional families over merely increasing birth numbers.
