In Italy, four in 10 LGBTQ people believe discrimination has hurt their jobs, according to a survey conducted Monday by Italy’s national statistics agency ISTAT and the national anti-discrimination office UNAR.

Of those surveyed, 41.4 percent said being gay or bisexual was a disadvantage to their career, professional recognition or salary, especially among private sector wage earners.

More than six in 10 people would prefer not to talk about their private lives at work to avoid revealing their sexuality, the survey showed.

The poll, conducted in 2022, surveyed 1,200 people.

LGBTQ rights and gender equality in Italy have been a particularly sensitive issue since rightwing Prime Minister Georgia Meloni came to power seven months ago, vowing to crack down on what she called the “LGBT lobby”.

her government told mayors stop registration Children of same-sex parents and the ruling majority tabled a bill in parliament aiming to sue for passage agentmainly for gay couples.