An Italian Lesbian couple pleaded with the mayor of Turin, Italy to institutionalize their nine-year relationship. Despite same-sex marriage being illegal in Italy, Mayor Sergio Chiamparino wanted to show his support for the couple anyway. He agreed to oversee a symbolic ceremony between the two at Rotonda de Valentino on Saturday.

“I cannot marry you because Italian law does not allow it. But I wanted to attend this beautiful ceremony in the hope that my presence would serve to tell everyone that you are first-class citizens, like all of us…I’m here to put a symbolic seal on this union. It’s a moment that sends a powerful message of happiness and suffering. Happiness because it is obvious that you love one another so much—suffering, because you cannot fully recognize that love,” Mayor Chiamparino said. [TR]