Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Compared with the rest of western Europe it's still like the 1970s here. Nonetheless, Milan yesterday showed why it's seen as the least provincial Italian city, by being the first in the country to formally register a gay couple.
Activist and politician Paolo Hutter and his partner, Paolo Oddi, signed their civil union certificate to a blaze of camera flashes in the city's town hall across the road from the Scala opera house.
In front of left wing councillors and liberal TV host Gad Lerner, Mr Hutter praised Milan's mayor Giuliano Pisapia for allowing it to happen.
Mr Pisapia is proving to be a likeable and effective first citizen of Italy's finance capital, prepared to take on reactionary elements of the centre-left and the church as well as the immigrant-bating right-wingers he kicked out of office in 2010.
When he announced in July that registered gay couples would get the same civic benefits as married couples, local clergy predicted the end of civilisation.
Alfonso Colzani, the spokesman on family issues for the powerful Milan diocese, even declared that the introduction of civil partnerships for straight and gay couples could "legitimise polygamy".
The influence of the church is largely blamed for Italy's dismal record on gay rights. But Mr Pisapia has opened the cracks in the damn. And with Matteo Renzi, Florence's modernising mayor, promising to campaign on a ticket of introducing full civil partnerships within 100 days of winning a general election, maybe things are changing.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments