Abstract

In this article, we investigate both Italian public opinion and political class’ opinion on same-sex civil unions within the context of the public and parliamentary debate about the Italian law n. 76/2016 on same-sex civil unions. Classic ideological positioning on the left-right political spectrum is still able to explain political orientations and public opinion fully or perfectly? Or post-ideological factors and positioning are more likely to explain progressive and conservative stances? The article combines quantitative and qualitative techniques to study political opinions by relying on a survey released by ITANES in 2017 on a sample of respondents interviewed several times from 2013 to 2016 for voters and qualitative critical frame analysis for party politicians (MPs). Divisions related to gender, sexuality, and family are likely to emerge not only among various political forces but even within them