Italy's Highest Court Rejects Gay Marriage

The highest court in Italy rejected appeals Wednesday from three same-sex couples seeking the right to marry.

According to Bloomberg.com, "The Constitutional Court judged the requests related to gay unions 'not admissible' and 'unfounded,' according to an e- mailed statement today. Courts in the northern cities of Trento and Venice had asked the court in Rome to rule on the matter."

The reason for the decision, not yet published, will be forthcoming, Bloomberg.com reports. Italy remains one of the few Western European countries without laws that recognize same-sex couples.