A ruling by a civil court in Rome represents another big step forward for gay families in Italy, where the law is still restrictive (a bill on civil unions was passed last year but does not allow for "stepchild adoptions"). The court's judgment approves a stepchild adoption for a same-sex family, and the state attorney's office has announced that it won't appeal the decision. But for how long will same-sex families in Italy have to struggle in court to be able to have their rights acknowledged and protected? It is due time to change the law!