Italy’s government is moving forward with plans to tighten access to gender-transitioning procedures for minors. A draft law, approved late on Monday, August 5th, by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet, would introduce strict new controls over the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments for individuals under 18.
In a statement, the government said the legislation was necessary “to protect the health of minors” and to establish “effective data monitoring.”
The bill would allow access to gender-transitioning medicines and procedures only under yet-to-be-defined protocols from the health ministry. Until those guidelines are in place, such interventions would require approval from a national ethics committee of paediatricians. Additionally, the law calls for the creation of a national registry at the Italian Medicines Agency to monitor “the correct use of (these) medicines” and collect extensive medical histories of transgender individuals undergoing transitioning.
And rightly so. One study published earlier this year in February, discussing the health and mental state of those receiving gender transitional care in Italy, found that they are more likely to have some type of mental disorder, with more than 50% reporting depression or anxiety. Patients identifying themselves as “non-binary” had much poorer overall health than ‘binary’ persons.
Under the leadership of Meloni, who has described herself as an opponent of the “LGTB lobby” and “gender ideology,” Italy’s government has repeatedly championed traditional family values. Since taking office nearly three years ago, the ruling coalition has curtailed parental recognition for same-sex couples.
Extreme-left progressive NGOs in the country are, naturally, protesting the latest government move to protect young people. But that will harldy stop the change from happening: while the bill still needs to pass through parliament, the ruling parties’ solid majority and ideological alignment with the bill’s objectives suggest it is likely to become law. If passed, the legislation will mark a significant shift in Italy’s handling of transgender health care and add to growing tensions between the state and LGBT advocacy groups.
