Knesset shoots down opposition bill to enable adoption for same sex couples
(Worthy News) – The Knesset rejected on Wednesday an opposition lawmaker’s bill that sought to officially enable same-sex couples and single people to adopt children.
The bill, proposed by Yesh Atid MK Yorai Lahav-Hertzano, was defeated in a preliminary reading by 45 votes against, and 37 in favor.
Current law, dating back to 1981, states that only a “man and his wife” are permitted to adopt children in Israel. However, the courts have the power to enable singles (including a single person in a same-sex relationship) to adopt in exceptional situations. According to the Aguda-The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel, adoption agencies give priority to heterosexual couples so that even those singles who are able to apply are pushed down the list to receive a child to the point where their chances of success dwindle to almost nothing. In addition, the partner of a single person who adopts a child is not recognized as also being a parent.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, an openly gay lawmaker for the coalition Likud party, broke ranks from the government’s stance of opposing the bill and voted in favor. [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]
