Urge your MP to vote for adoption

Urge your MP to vote for adoption

The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) was very pleased to recently learn that the Uniting Church has written to NSW parliamentarians urging them to support Clover Moore’s Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill.

This news is in direct opposition to the recent report that Anglicare, which operates one of the primary non-government adoption agenices in NSW, would withdraw its services if adoption reform is passed.

Chief executive Peter Kell wrote to MPs outlining 11 reasons why the Bill should be rejected, including that children need both a mother and a father, and asked that MPs take a conservative approach when it comes to a conscience vote on the issue.

Despite opposing same-sex couples adopting, Anglicare has been keen to advertise for foster carers in a gay newspaper. Western Australian chief Ian Carter noted that thousands of children are in need of the right care and that Anglicare was advertising in a range of publications in hope of attracting more people to become foster carers.

“We need to ensure there is no discrimination on the grounds of issues to do with ethnicity or religion or race or sexuality, to influence the capacity of the whole community to look after children in crisis and need,” Carter said.

It is insulting and contradictory to ask same-sex couples to become foster carers for needy and vulnerable children and at the same time say they should not be allowed to apply to formalise the parent-child relationship with these same children who have been in their long-term loving care.

It is predicted this Bill will be debated and voted on in early September. Premier Kristina Keneally has allowed a conscience vote, so its passage will depend solely on individual MPs supporting it.

The GLRL has been lobbying hard to encourage MPs to support the Bill. However, we cannot underestimate the work being undertaken by those who oppose it.

The GLRL urges everyone to write to their local MPs and urge them to support this crucial Bill.
info: Visit www.glrl.org.au for more information on how to take action.

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2 responses to “Urge your MP to vote for adoption”

  1. According to Crikey this will be voted on this Tuesday by BOTH houses of parliament, so we’d better get a wriggle on.