The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) urges all NSW Parliamentarians to act in the best interests of children and support Clover Moore’s Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill.

The Bill implements the recommendations made by the NSW Law and Justice Committee’s parliamentary inquiry in 2009, making the definitions of ‘de facto partner’, ‘spouse’, ‘couple’ and ‘step parent’ gender neutral, permitting same-sex couples eligibility to adopt.

Senthorun Raj, GLRL Policy and Development Coordinator, stressed, “No one has a right to adopt. This Bill simply ensures that same-sex couples may apply to become legal parents of children in their care, giving their children access to all the rights, entitlements and benefits conferred by legal parentage.”

The Bill also remedies odd inconsistencies in NSW parenting laws. Kellie McDonald, GLRL Convenor, emphasised, “It is problematic to allow gay or lesbian individuals to adopt and encourage same-sex couples to foster children, but then deny them eligibility to adopt as a couple.”

Mr Raj noted, “Medical and psychological research highlights that sexual orientation is not a meaningful indicator of parenting ability. All couples should be judged on their objective merits.”

Ms McDonald added, “Children have the right to have the best possible parents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is why a number of child welfare, adoption and foster care agencies support non-discriminatory adoption legislation.”

Barnardos, the Benevolent Society, Council of Social Services NSW, the Association of Child Welfare Agencies, Child Protection Society, National Children and Youth Law Centre and Uniting Care support the Bill.

If passed, this Bill will also remove last piece of direct legislative discrimination against same-sex couples in NSW.

The GLRL is calling on all NSW parliamentarians to act in the best interests of children by supporting the proposed legislative amendments to the Adoption Act.

For further comment, please contact Senthorun Raj on 0422 559 835 or Kellie McDonald on 0418 459 230.