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(London) A new law that came into effect on
Friday allows same-sex partners to adopt each other's children. It also will
allow both partners to adopt children through an agency or become co-parents
through in-vitro fertilization.
The law will affect same-sex couples in England
and Wales. Legislation will be introduced in Scotland early in the new year.
The law is being hailed as the biggest overhaul of British adoption law in
30 years.
The new law came into effect less than two weeks
after same-sex couples in the UK were allowed to enter into civil partnerships.
(story)
Civil partnerships give same-sex couples an
opportunity to register their relationships and receive most of the same
benefits accorded married couples including pension, immigration, and property
rights.
The head of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering
said that she knows of dozens of same-sex couples who have been waiting for the
law to take effect.
"These changes will have a major
impact on thousands of families," said BAAF Chief executive Felicity Collier.
"This is very important at a time when too many children wait too long in temporary care waiting for an adoptive family or, in some cases, never have the chance of adoption at all."
The law also will allow same-sex couples to
jointly be foster parents. In addition it makes it easier for adoptive children
to get more information on their birth parents.
©365Gay.com 2005
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