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Mural of Meloni and Schlein in Milan
Political implications
Surrogacy does not only concern LGBTQ+ couples, it also affects heterosexual couples who are perhaps married and may vote for the conservative Brothers of Italy party. Not everyone who votes for Italy’s center-left party is in favor of surrogacy, as is the case for voters of the Democratic Party in the United States.
It would be very easy to live in a world divided between fascists and non-fascists.
But, above all, not being in favor of surrogacy does not correspond to supporting the Brothers of Italy, being right-wing or, as they like to say, being a "fascist."
In Italy and in the U.S. we are witnessing a ridiculous exercise in bad faith that will only lead to quantifying damage in a few years: if you disagree with something, you are a fascist. If you think or even have doubts about concepts such as surrogacy, you are a fascist.
What does fascism actually look like?
In the United States, this exercise is reflected in other spheres: for example, if you say that children should not undergo a gender transition, you are surely a fascist. Not only do people say it on social media, but it is also present in culturally elitist newspapers. It would be very easy to live in a world divided between fascists and non-fascists but, sadly, that's not how it works — and making believe that it does is a rather sloppy way of thinking.
We can't do anything with a female prime minister if she doesn't care about women's rights.
What we do know is that in Italy the ruling right-wing government wants to make surrogacy an international crime, and we don't understand how they can do so when in other countries it is a lawful practice.
Why isn't it enough that it's illegal in Italy? Is it a topic used so people can distract themselves? Is it a test of strength? Does someone really feel the need to make it illegal?
Female bodily autonomy is non-negotiable
It’s clear that we all seem to care about the debate revolving around women's bodies. The bodies on the mural are those of the two most powerful political figures in the country, both of whom are women.
Palombo declared, "Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein share a historic occasion, that of meeting at the summit together and debating directly without worrying about male interference on issues concerning the female sphere. This occasion will strengthen the path towards gender equality, emancipation and self-determination."
Millions of words have been wasted on the fact that we can't do anything with a female prime minister if she doesn't care about women's rights. The glass ceiling wasn't so breakable after all. In all of this, it is clear that a woman’s right to bodily autonomy should never be questioned: we are women, we are not stupid.
- Party Time For Giorgia? We Don’t Need More Women Leaders Like These ›
- Milan Forced To Stop Registering Babies Of Same-Sex Couples ›
- How Italy’s New Draconian Bill On Surrogacy Twists The Meaning Of "Women's Dignity" ›
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