Italian upper house Senate brings down LGBT+ protection bill

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian Senate voted on Wednesday to block debate over a bill that would make violence against women and LGBT+ people a hate crime, effectively killing off a proposal previously approved by the lower house of parliament.

The bill, championed by the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), has triggered fierce discussion in Italy, with the Vatican also getting involved, saying it could restrict the religious freedom of the Catholic Church.