Adoption for gay couples in South Australia may soon be legalised
SOUTH聽Australia is now one step closer to legalising adoptions for same-sex couples and singles after the state government recently announced a review into the state鈥檚 adoption laws.
The state’s Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine said on the weekend the formation of a review committee will consider updating the SA’s聽, which has largely remained untouched since it was passed in 1988.
A review of the act, which currently prevents same-sex couples and singles from adopting, was originally promised in two years ago.
Shaun Douglas-Galley, who moved聽to Australia from the UK with his husband Blue and two children (pictured above), Dylan (2) and Joshi (4), was shocked to learn that adoptions by same-sex couples were illegal in the state.
He began a petition for the state government to amend its adoption laws in April and has since captured both the attention of the media and couples in the LGBTI community.
鈥淚 have been with my husband for 11 years, five聽of those in a recognised civil partnership in the UK. We adopted our sons in the UK between 2011-2013,鈥� Douglas-Galley told the Star Observer.
鈥淎s a parent, we want our children to feel included, equal, in the state that they live in and contribute to. The idea that their family is somehow outside of the law is concerning, both now and for the future.鈥�
A statement on聽, which has so far garnered over 3000 signatures, reads: 鈥淥ur family is proof that adopted children鈥檚 best interests are served by the presence of capable individuals, or couples, regardless of their sexuality.鈥�
The review committee is expected to release a discussion paper in November for public consultation, which will encourage same-sex couples and singles to engage in the debate and make submissions.
“We want the LGBTI community to have a role in the public consultation before the committee reports to Government in June 2015,鈥� 聽Douglas-Galley said.
鈥淭he notion that just because you are gay, you don鈥檛 want a family, or should be denied the means to have a family, no longer holds up in modern western societies.鈥�
聽national spokesperson Shelley Argent聽has welcomed the review by the SA Government and is hopeful the adoption laws will be amended.
鈥淢ost Australian states are slow due to myths and out-dated beliefs and fears. We can only hope that SA see these for what they are, which is nonsense,鈥� Argent聽told the Star Observer.
鈥淲e hope that those on the review board check studies that show parents of same sex attraction make very worthy parents and children don’t care about gender of parents but the love and support given to them is more important.聽鈥�
Earlier this month, a report released by researchers from the University of Melbourne showed that聽聽as, or even better than, children from traditional families when it came to physical, mental and emotional health.
The review committee is expected to submit its final report to government in June 2015.
Did you know that South Australia is the only state to ban IVF for single women and lesbians?!
Yes, it is correct that in 2014 South Australian adoption laws are in need of total reform since they are from the 1980s and same sex couples should be allowed to adopt children. The Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria also all still ban gay couples from adopting children – which is cruel, bigoted and outdated in 2014!
Also what about getting rid of the bans on surrogacy on gay couples and the bans on IVF for single women and lesbians too?????
Western Australia is the only other place in Australia to ban gay couples from surrogacy arrangements!
South Australia also has not abolished the gay panic defence as well (Queensland is the only other state to have the gay panic defence)!