A same-sex couple being forced apart by the Italian government's failure to recognise their relationship will appeal to the Italian judiciary. Immigration authorities in the Tuscan province of Livorno rejected an application from New Zealander Douglas McCall for a permit to stay in Italy with his partner of five years, Roberto Taddeucci, an Italian citizen. Previously the couple had lived in New Zealand where they had encountered no such problems. Taddeucci had been granted immigration rights under New Zealand's family defacto provision. Due to family and personal reasons the couple wish to stay in Italy past the December 2004 expiration of Douglas McCall's student visa, but within Italian law homosexual unions do not exist and therefore do not enjoy any legal rights or protection. A spokesman for the Italian consulate in New Zealand confirmed to GayNZ.com that same-sex and defacto couples are not recognised under Italian law, and was unable to provide information as to whether legislation to alter this was forthcoming. Italy is a signatory to the European Constitution, signed in Rome on Friday 29th October, which promotes equality amongst all citizens and prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 14th November 2004 - 12:00pm