Belgium’s Parliament backs gay adoption
Belgian MPs have backed plans to allow adoption by gay couples, just two years after legalizing same-sex marriage.
The lower house of Belgium’s parliament voted 77-62 in favor of the measure, which must also pass the upper house. If fully approved, Belgium will become the third country in the EU, after Sweden and Spain, to allow same-sex adoption.
Belgium campaigners argued that many children are currently cared for by homosexual couples, but are without adequate legal protection.
The law will grant gay couples in Belgium the same rights as heterosexual couples, allowing them to adopt children from anywhere in the world. In Germany and Denmark, homosexual adoption is limited to the partners’ biological children.
Final approval by the upper house, or Senate, is expected in March.
Two years ago, Belgium voted to approve same-sex marriage, with an estimated 5,000 ceremonies held since then. A string of other European countries also allow gay marriage or full civil rights, including Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.
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