First gay adoption for WA

Two men in Western Australia made history on Wednesday by becoming the state’s first gay couple to officially adopt a child.

According to Perth’s Sunday Times, the WA Department for Community Development confirmed that a male couple, that was approved to adopt about three years ago, had been given a child. The department declined to reveal the child’s sex or age.

The WA Labor government passed legislation in 2002 allowing same-sex couples to adopt. Similar laws also exist in Tasmania and the ACT.

The adoption comes in the same week that Victorian politicians were presented with a report that recommends gay people should have parity with heterosexuals in matters of adoption and assisted reproduction.

Prime Minister John Howard swiftly hit back at the report saying he opposed gay adoption -“ despite the mounting evidence to the contrary.

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos said he would consider the Victorian reports conclusions, and possible implications for NSW, at July’s Standing Committee of Attorneys General meeting.

Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesman Ghassan Kassisieh said he was concerned Hatzistergos might drag his feet on the issue.

His response has been supportive to an extent, but what we can see from the Victorian report that there is no reason for him not to act now, he said.

They had a substantial consultation in Victoria and they made the recommendation that sexuality should never be used to discriminate against the welfare of a child.

We’re talking about key fundamental issues – the ability for a parent to consent to medical treatment, the ability to take a child to hospital, the ability to sign a permission note for school and the ability to pass on your inheritance.