Tag: adoption

Same-sex couples can now adopt children anywhere in Australia. The Northern Territory was the last region of the country holding out against the tide of progress – until this week. In a historic move, lawmakers added amendments to the NT Adoption of Children Act which mean that same-sex couples – as well as de facto couples – can now legally adopt. Before now, only straight couples were allowed this right. The decision comes after the federal Parliament’s followed the country’s wishes – expressed...

It's another religious exemption law Georgia lawmakers are working on a bill that discriminates against gay couples wanting to adopt. Republican Senator William Ligon introduced Senate Bill 375 aka Keep Faith in Adoption and Foster Care Act earlier this month. The bill allows adoption agencies to deny placing children with same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs. It also prevent the state’s Department of Human Services from taking ‘adverse actions’ against agencies if they do this. On Tuesday (20 February) morning, the Georgia...

As marriage equality makes slow but steady progress around the world, the rights of same-sex parents are still in jeopardy: A Singapore court rejected a petition by a gay man to adopt a child he fathered through surrogacy. The unnamed man, a doctor, has been with his partner in the country for more than a dozen years. The couple approached the Ministry of Social and Family Development about adoption but were told it was unlikely a gay couple would be...

A Kentucky family court judge who refused to hear adoption cases involving LGBT parents has been found guilty by the state Judicial Conduct Commission, according to the Courier Journal. W. Mitchell Nance was issued a public reprimand this Tuesday that states “due to Respondent’s retirement, a public reprimand is warranted, and is the only public sanction available.” During the ethics investigation, Nance announced that he planned to resign, which prompted the public reprimand. Nance made headlines back in April when he...

A South African court has denied a gay couple the right to adopt a child and the judge did it for a good reason. The adoption would not be in the child’s best interests. The two men have been together for ten years and wanted to have a child with a surrogate mother. Surrogacy agreements have to be approved by a court in the African country before adoption rights are granted. While they have been partners for a decade, one of...

'We cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives loving you, protecting you, and doing whatever we need to make you happy' Beautiful letters penned by two gay dads to the son that has changed their lives have picked up thousands of likes online. Arejay Encinas and Mauricio Camargo are based in Tuscon, Arizona. They began their journey to parenthood soon after marrying in February 2015. However, it did not prove easy. The first foster agency they signed up to suddenly...

Jordan Marin-Doan pleaded not guilty of arson and murder. An Indianapolis teen was arrested last week in connection to a house fire that left his adoptive father Jason Doan, 45, dead, ABC affiliate RTV6 reports. Charged as an adult, Jordan Marin-Doan, 16, pleaded not guilty to the charges of arson and murder. Doan’s husband, Alan Marin, told police that they awoke to find a fire blocking the staircase that lead to the exit of their family home. Before succumbing to the flames,...

16 year old Jordan Marin-Doan has been charged as an adult with murder, arson and auto theft. He allegedly wanted to kill his adoptive parents, who are gay, so “he could get a cell next to his biological father in prison.” He was arrested on Saturday in connection to the fire that killed one of his adoptive fathers, 45 year old Jason Doan, last Thursday. His husband Alan, were awoken find a fire blocking their exit. Jason was able to get...

'It sounds very cliche, but it feels like our lives have started over' Gay dads Matt DeLeva and Joseph Littlefield always knew they wanted to be parents. In fact, they even spoke about it on their first date. Fast forward three and a half years and it’s finally a reality, but it hasn’t been the smoothest journey. The adorable pair met at a Pride event held at the San Diego Zoo, but they both live in Los Angeles. They got engaged and then...

Ireland is passing new legislation allowing unmarried couples to apply to adopt. An amendment to the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 has been signed, allowing unmarried couples to put forward applications to adopt a child. The changes to adoption laws will commence starting tomorrow (Thursday 19 October). Previously, only married couples were allowed to adopt a child. This was the case whether a couple was gay or straight. With this new legislation, unmarried couples will now be eligible to adopt in Ireland. This is...

"To watch these kids grow in our home is such a reward," say Jai and Ian Gilyard-Schnaitman. Since tying the knot in 2015, Jai and Ian Gilyard-Schnaitman have welcomed a total of nine foster kids into their lives. And on September 5, the Michigan couple finalized the paperwork to adopt one, 6-year-old Phoenix. “The adoption process was 15 months of ups and downs,” Ian, 37, tells NewNowNext, “but we were lucky enough to have a supportive team around us to help...

A gay couple has become the first same-sex pairing to adopt a child in Germany. The two men from Berlin got married on October 2nd, the day after gay marriage was officially legal in the country, and have now earned the screening to adopt as well. Michael and Kai Korok are now happy to be the official parents of adopted two-year-old Maximilian. The two have known the child since birth as they took him in as his foster parents. Then, after Germany...

Baby was just 18 months when she died A gay fitness instructor is accused of assaulting, abusing and murdering his 18-month-old adopted daughter. Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of inflicting serious injuries on baby Elsie before her death. A part-time personal trainer from Delabole, Cornwall, he denies murdering the baby. Cardiff Crown Court heard Wales Ambulance Service received a call from Scully-Hicks at about 6.20pm on 25 May. He reported Elsie was unresponsive. Receiving first aid from paramedics, she was taken to the University...

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan, for allowing adoption services to refuse same-sex couples. Michigan pays private agencies to provide child welfare services, providing children with foster care and looking to find them foster and adoptive families. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is allowing these services to turn away homes for the children on the grounds of religious objections, because the prospective parents are gay. Despite Michigan having 13,000 children in...