Italy's lower house of parliament on Wednesday passed an antidiscrimination bill that makes violence against women and LGBT+ people a hate crime, with those found guilty of such attacks risking longer prison terms.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's video mapping show is displayed on the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, October 16. World Food Day was marked across Italy with both colorful and serious events plus tributes to the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which marked the 75th founding anniversary the same day. Photo: Xinhua

The bill was approved by 265 votes to 193 in the 630-member chamber and now needs a final green light from the upper house Senate, where it has the support of the ruling coalition parties, before becoming law.

It modifies an existing law punishing offences based on someone's race or religion with up to four years in jail.

"It is a big step forward against discrimination, hatred and violence," Alessandro Zan, the openly gay lawmaker who promoted the law, wrote on Twitter.

The change was championed by the center-left Democratic Party, but faced opposition from right-wing parties and the Italian Roman Catholic Church, which said existing protections were strong enough. The conservative campaign group Pro Life and Family has said the bill will make LGBT+ people "more equal than others," while Italian bishops warned in June 2019 that the new law could curb dissenting opinions, including that a family requires the union of a man and a woman.

Zan has denied that the bill would impinge on free speech.
Newspaper headline: Italy’s lower house okays bill for LGBT+