Adoption News - 3 - Britain Parliament OKs Gay Adoptions

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Britain Parliament OKs Gay Adoptions
.c The Associated Press LONDON (AP)

Britain's upper chamber of Parliament voted Tuesday to lift a ban on unmarried and gay couples adopting children, reversing its earlier defeat of the legislation. The House of Lords approval came after the House of Commons voted for the measure, meaning it now is almost certain to become law. It will make Britain the fifth European country to allow gay couples to adopt along with Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the Netherlands. South Africa became the first African country to let same sex couples legally adopt children with a Sept. 10 court ruling. Under British law, single heterosexuals and homosexuals may adopt children but unmarried and gay couples may not. The government says changing the law will help thousands of children currently awaiting adoption. Opponents say only marriage provides the stable environment children need. The Lords - mostly appointed to their legislative posts - are traditionally more conservative than the House of Commons and defeated the bill last month. The peers' powers are limited, but they can amend and delay legislation put to them by the elected Commons members. The Conservative leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said he was disappointed by the vote. ``I hope that in the fervor to promote more adoption outside marriage the needs of vulnerable children for a stable, lifelong background will still be remembered,'' he said. The government's health secretary, Alan Milburn, said ``as a result of tonight's vote, many children in care institutions will be able to hope for a life out of care and in a stable and loving family.'' 11/05/02 16:21 EST

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