Italian Court Recognizes Both Gay Dads as Legal Parents to Their Children

In a historic ruling for Italy, two gay men who had two children by surrogacy were both recognized as the children's parents under the law.

The Trento Court of Appeal ruled that the men, despite biological links to the children, share responsibility in raising the children and deserved to be considered parents before the law.

"One must consider the importance of parental responsibility, which is manifested in the conscious decision to raise and care for the child," the court said.

Related: Italy Approves Same-Sex Unions Law

The decision is a powerful step forward for Italian LGBTQ families. Italy was one of the last western European countries to legalize same-sex partnerships. Because of resistance from Catholic political leadership, the law recognizing partnerships was stripped of language supporting adoption by same-sex couples.

Looks like the courts are moving ahead of Rome on this issue.