Sergio Giordani, the rebel mayor of Padua: “I won’t stop the recordings. Rights first of all”

Mayor Sergio Giordani, the trials of the rainbow mothers have begun. The judicial machinery proceeds, the rights of families and above all of children are at risk. Are you still of the same opinion?

«Completely of the same idea, the rights of girls and boys come first. The interest of the minor comes first, the idea that children are denied fundamental rights and are exposed to serious discrimination is also unacceptable morally, I am a grandfather before being mayor, but also as mayor I always orient my action towards dignity of people and I am inspired by the Constitution on which I swore”.

Is it true that you continued to register children born to homosexual couples and that the Prosecutor’s Office continued to challenge the documents?

«Yes, I continued, but mind you: there is no conflict here between me and the Prosecutor’s Office, on the contrary. There is a country which, starting from its Parliament, must immediately acknowledge that there is a serious regulatory gap to be filled and that factions must be put aside on the rights of the little ones. We need to realize that society is already far ahead of the laws and that these must be adapted to protect minors. Some of these children are already 6 years old. How can you take a parent away from them? One of these mothers publicly declared that she had cancer and that she feared that her daughter would become an orphan. Now, I give this mother a hug and wish the best from my heart, but in the face of cases like this it is impossible to remain insensitive.”

Why does he do it? Isn’t he afraid, sooner or later, that she too will end up in trouble?

«I do it because I think it’s right. I do this because I have a duty to use the powers delegated to me to protect people, their rights, and in particular children. I do it because I have four grandchildren and at 70 I want a clear conscience, with them and with my community.”

How many registrations have you made in the last few months?

«After the appeals started, six more».

Are you still convinced to proceed with this battle?

«Yes, and always respectful of the State because I am a man of the State: but it will have to be a judge who says “stop” to me, not a politician».

Padua has become a case that risks becoming jurisprudence. How do you live this responsibility?

“To the best of our ability, without seeking confrontation but pursuing justice and common sense.”

In your opinion, does the city stand with these mothers or does the issue still divide the parties greatly?

«The Paduans are with the mothers of the rainbow couples, I’m sure, a vast majority. Anyone who makes it an ideological question is making a serious mistake.”

The Prosecutor’s Office has asked the court to take the case to the Constitutional Court, what do you think?

«I am not a jurist and I await with respect what the Court will decide. Of course, in Padua we were the first to start this process, convinced that it served to turn the spotlight on a serious vulnerability. If Parliament doesn’t think about it, our Republic has its own mechanisms for deciding and giving indications on issues that affect constitutional principles. I and many fellow mayors are in the field to ask for a clear principle to be consolidated on this very delicate issue.”