The Italian government is proposing new legislation to impose stricter controls on the provision of medical treatments for minors undergoing gender transition. This draft law, passed by the cabinet but awaiting parliamentary approval, would regulate medications such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies for those under 18 experiencing gender dysphoria. The measure aims to protect minors’ health and implement data monitoring, though it has faced criticism and protests from transgender rights advocates.
The proposed law would require the use of protocols yet to be drafted by the health ministry and would mandate approval by a national ethics committee of pediatricians before these medications can be dispensed. Additionally, a national registry will be established at the Italian Medicines Agency to monitor the use of these medications and collect the medical histories of each transgender individual undergoing treatment. This initiative has drawn strong opposition from transgender rights advocates, who argue that the restrictions could limit access to essential medical care for young people in need.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government has consistently criticized the LGBTQ+ community and what it calls ‘gender ideology,’ has expressed support for the draft law. The measure is part of a broader ideological stance that seeks to restrict what the government views as ‘Western’ influences on family and societal norms. Meloni’s coalition, which holds a significant parliamentary majority, is expected to push the law through, although it remains subject to potential amendments or rejection by the full parliament. The bill has also sparked broader debates on the intersection of medical ethics, human rights, and policy-making in Italy.
While the legislation is primarily centered on health policy, it reflects a deeper ideological shift within the Italian government, which has enacted several measures that limit LGBTQ+ rights, including restricting recognition of same-sex parents and making surrogacy abroad illegal. The proposed law adds to a growing trend of conservative legislative actions in Europe, raising concerns among human rights organizations and international bodies. Despite the opposition, the government maintains that its approach is necessary to protect the well-being of minors, emphasizing the importance of regulatory oversight in medical treatments for young people.