Sydney’s new adoption law advances rights for gay parents

An Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill has passed in New South Wales (NSW). The bill’s content provides definitional changes of terms such as ”couple”, ”de facto partner” and ”step-parent” – making them gender neutral. Because of this reform, NSW has significantly advanced social justice for gay men, lesbians and their families. NSW is Australia’s most populous state. It’s located in the south-east of the country. New South Wales’s largest city and capital is Sydney.

In an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald, Senthorun Raj says: “NSW has finally made a claim to history by eliminating the last direct piece of legislative discrimination on the basis of sexuality, to protect and acknowledge the many same-sex families in this state.

“No one has the right to adopt. Children do, however, have the right to have legally recognised parents, regardless of their parent’s sexuality or gender identity. As a consequence of this reform, NSW has significantly advanced social justice for gay men, lesbians and their families.”