A gay couple was photographed during a sit-in to request a law for registered partnerships including also couples of the same sex in Milan, Italy.
The Italian Senate passed a bill on Thursday to legalize same-sex civil unions, but did not allow the couples to adopt a 'stepchild,' as surrogacy is illegal in the country.
The bill was passed amidst opposition from Roman Catholic Church and center-right parties by 173 - 71 in the upper house, from which the bill will now go on to the lower house.
Civil rights granted to heterosexual unmarried couples were also given to those in the same-sex unions in this bill, including right to take a partner's name, financial support, common address and next-to-kin rights, which were as yet only allowed to married couples.
Italy is the only Western European country where same-sex civil unions are not legal.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the voting result "historic," and tweeted, "Love wins."
"Hope has defeated fear. Courage has won against discrimination. Love has won," Rinzi wrote on his Facebook page.
Minister of constitutional reforms and sponsor of the bill, Monica Cirinnà , said in a statement that the legislation affirms that the "life project of a same-sex couple is not worth less than that between a man and a woman."
"Our effort doesn't end here," she told senators. "We made only a first - albeit very tough - step."
The stepchild adoption clause of the bill was fiercely opposed by center-right parties, as they said that the provision will encourage surrogacy among the same-sex couples, which is illegal in the country.
The stripping of the adoption clause was condemned by proponents of the bill.
"These children already exist; the prime minister recently said that all children are equal in Italy," Marilena Grassadonia of Italy's Rainbow Families told The New York Times. "Today, that's unfortunately not the case."
President of gay activist group Archigay said, "This text once again does not take into consideration children who need definite laws and protection. The law that has come out of all this is lacking its heart."
Roberto Calderoli of Northern League party, who opposed the bill in parliament, brought up the statements of Pope Francis and other church leaders disapproving the same-sex unions.
"All those who vote yes today will go to hell. There are no saints ... Renzi will probably end up in hell, too. It's just a question of time," he said.
In other alterations of the bill on floor, the language that put gay civil unions at par with marriage was taken out, including terms such as "faithfulness."
