The “E” in “English” = “Enlightened”
December 30, 2005: Has anyone else noticed how Britian’s attitudes towards homosexuality have improved since Madonna moved there? First they legalize civil unions, and now they make their adoption laws gay-friendly. The list of reasons to move to the UK just keeps growing. I got this from PageOneQ.com:
Changes to the adoption laws allowing unmarried couples to adopt, which take effect from today, have been warmly welcomed by campaign groups.
The Adoption and Children Act makes it possible for couples, including those in same-sex partnerships, to be joint parents of an adopted child, whereas previously only one partner had such legal rights.
Support organisations are hopeful that the changes will help to address the shortage of adoptive parents.
Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), claims that only a small number of single people have adopted successfully.
Ms Collier agreed it was likely that more gay couples would now come forward to be considered as adoptive parents, particularly as the new legislation comes so soon after same-sex unions were granted legal recognition in the Civil Partnership Act.
“Some single people adopt who are in gay or lesbian relationships but only one of them has responsibility for the child; and now we’ve got the Civil Partnership Act people make a commitment to each other and we want them considered for their suitabilities to adopt children too,” she said.