An Italian city removes the names of gay mothers from children's birth certificates

This is being done under a new law passed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's “family-first” government.

Thirty-three children born to Italian women who underwent artificial insemination abroad were born under the centre-left government of the city of Padua led by mayor Sergio Giordani in 2017.

The prosecutor's office in Padua confirmed to CNN that, as of Thursday, 27 mothers had their names removed from 27 birth certificates.

Mr Giordani came to power promising to abolish the traditional "mother" and "father" on birth certificates, but this was reversed when Ms Meloni's administration ordered local authorities to stop registering same-sex parents.

By law, only a child's biological parents can be named on a birth certificate.

Surrogacy is illegal in Italy and gay marriage is not legal. Because same-sex relationships are not recognized by law.

The bill also prevents men in same-sex relationships from registering their children at birth with the names of both fathers. Instead, they must choose one man as the legal father.

“There is no discrimination against children,” Family Minister Eugenia Roccella told parliament when she introduced the bill in June, explaining that children of same-sex couples would have access to the same schools and health services as other children.

Meloni has campaigned heavily against LGBT rights and since taking office in October has been vocal about her desire to ensure “all babies are born to a man and a woman”.

Padua is the first city in Italy to abolish birth certificates, but human rights groups fear that other regions, especially those controlled by the centre-right government, will follow suit.

In late June, about 300 women took part in a sit-in outside Padua's court of justice after a state prosecutor in the city said the birth certificates of 33 children born to lesbian couples were invalid.

During a peaceful protest, women held up signs such as: “Teachers taught us that we are all the same. Didn't your teachers teach you?”

Mai Anh (according to CNN)