Rome, Italy (CNN) After years of fierce debate, Italy's parliament has given the green light for gay civil unions. The country's parliament approved same-sex unions Wednesday in a confidence vote 369-193 for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi , ensuring that the civil unions bill will become law. Until the vote, Italy was the last major Western country not to legally recognize same-sex relationships. Previous attempts to legalize gay unions had been stymied and fiercely contested by conservatives and the Roman Catholic church , which holds significant sway in the nation. Here's the Colosseum in Rome celebrating the legalization of gay civil unions🇮🇹🌈 pic.twitter.com/cykA2xDp1V — flavia♡ (@yaycalzona) May 11, 2016ITALY IS PROUD TO LOVE#unionicivili #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/U5Hrk97RcA — charlie (@dobrevskendall) May 11, 2016PM: Italy cannot postpone everything"It's a day of celebration for many.

Source: CNN May 11, 2016 20:38 UTC