Sydney to hear gay adoption views
Sydney based gay and lesbian couples may be given the right to adopt children, activists say.
The New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is looking to take advantage of public submissions to a review of the Department of Community Services Adoption Act.
Lobby co-convenor David Scamell told the Sydney Star Observer, “We believe it’s important for all members of the community, not just those who are parents but those who believe in parenting rights for the gay and lesbian community, to make a submission to this inquiry.
“We are quite confident that if we do have a good outcome from this inquiry it will give a strong impetus for the minister and the government to take up the lead and amend the Adoption Act.”
The Sydney state government in Australia currently blocks gay couples from adopting but allows it for single gays and lesbians.
Independent Bligh MP Clover Moore said: “While the current Adoption Act attempts to acknowledge that family structures differ, there can be no true acknowledgment of the diversity of families without recognising same-sex couples as eligible to parent.”
A spokesperson for Community Services minister Reba Meagher told the paper that the review would consider all submissions received by the end of May.