In a sad day for equal rights, the Italian State Council confirmed the cancellation of all transcriptions for same-sex marriages officiated abroad, which will therefore be invalid. Without a law on gay unions - which Italy has been awaiting for decades - marriage abroad was the only legal avenue available for same-sex couples. While Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano celebrated the news, LGBTI NGOs such as Rete Lenford have strongly criticized the decision: "This contradicts prior Supreme Court decisions. The case may be brought before the European Court of Human Rights."