Marino pledges support for same-sex couples

Ignazio Marino
ROME -  The Catholic mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, has pledged his support for same-sex couples, stating that Rome "will soon begin" to register civil unions and that he has "no opposition" to adoption by same-sex couples.
 
 Mayor Marino had previously expressed his support for civil unions, using it as a platform for support during his mayoral campaign, but on Thursday he stated that he is "not afraid of the word 'marriage' between persons of the same sex." He also pledged his support for same-sex couples, stating that, "as promised," Rome will soon begin to register civil unions.
 
 The mayor also stated that he has "no opposition" to adoption by same-sex couples. Under current legislation, adoption remains available only to married couples in Italy, though in January the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples may serve as foster parents. Obtaining custody of a foster child has proven difficult however. On Friday, a Bologna court awarded a same-sex couple temporary custody of a three-year-old girl after prosecutors claimed that they were "unfit" to serve as foster parents.