A BUREAUCRATIC crackdown on Italy’s LGBT families was branded ideological, cruel and discriminatory yesterday by opposition Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, who vowed to push for stronger protections.

Ms Schlein, who revealed in 2020 that she was in a relationship with another woman, joined thousands of people at a demonstration in Milan against a bid by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to restrict the rights of parents in same-sex relationships.

Last week, the government forced Milan to limit parental rights to the biological parent when same-sex couples register their children with the city’s authorities.

Parents are required to register their relationship to a child for matters such as authorising medical treatment.

Ms Schlein accused Ms Meloni’s government of “cruelly lashing out” at the children of gay parents and denying them rights.

She said: “We are talking about rights being trampled upon when they are already recognised by our constitution. We are talking about girls and boys already growing up in our communities, going to our schools.

“These families are tired of being discriminated against.”

Ms Schlein vowed to press for a debate on legislation to close the legal loophole that resulted in the crackdown.

The government made no immediate comment.