Italian parliament's first transgender MP has been barred from being witness at a cousin's wedding.

Vladimir Luxuria, born Wladimiro Guadagno, is a 42-year-old former drag queen.

She told Italian news agency ANSA she doesn't consider herself a male or a female but prefers feminine pronouns and references, reports UPI.

She is quoted saying: "[The ban is] an outrage. This just goes to show how out-of-touch the Church is with the wider Catholic community, which is increasingly open and tolerant."

Luxuria doesn't believe the ban to be legitimate arguing that rules governing wedding witness do not mention people's gender. In Italy, witnesses who are the best man or maid of honor sign the wedding certificate.

While confirming the ban, the bishop's office in the city of Foggia did not offer an explanation to ANSA.

Luxuria is a member of the Communist party as well as a gay-rights activist