Dear MLC,

I urge you to support the removal of discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in the Adoption Act 2000 (NSW), as proposed by the Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill.

In all adoption processes, I strongly believe that individuals and couples should be judged on their ability to care for a child and provide a stable home, not on their sexual orientation.

Children in same-sex foster families, and some children with same-sex step parents and co-parents need adoption to ensure they also have equal rights and protection under the law. For these children, adoption will ensure their parents and families are also legally recognised and that they can have a birth certificate which reflects their family structure.

Same-sex couple adoption reform would ensure children have the benefit of:

Parental authority. Children in the care of same-sex couples could have two legally-recognised parents empowered to give consent for their medical treatment, take them to hospital, sign school permission notes, and interact with their child care centres and schools.

Custody and contact. Children in the care of same-sex couples who were adopted would have more certainty around their care and welfare if a parent dies or their parents separate.

Inheritance. Children in the care of same-sex couples who were adopted would have have automatic rights to inherit property and superannuation upon the death of their adoptive parents.

Entitlements and responsibilities conferred to parents and children under state and federal legislation. Any legislation which confered rights or responsibilities to a parent or child would be conferred to the adoptive parents and their child. For example, children will have rights to child support and worker\'s compensation if an adoptive parent dies or is seriously injured at work.

I strongly encourage you to act in the best interests of children and support the removal of discrimination in adoption law.

Yours sincerely,


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