Northern Ireland Health Minister: ‘It is not a human right for gay couples to adopt children’

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots says “It is not a human right to adopt a child for either a mixed-sex couple or a same-sex couple.”

The DUP evangelical Christian Assembly Member is trying to maintain a ban on same-sex couples adopting in Northern Ireland – even though the policy was declared unlawful in October 2012.

Mr Poots has used £40,000 of public money in order to fund a legal challenge.

In comments to the BBC, Mr Poots said: “I think we should be cautious about changing the system which actually provides the stability those children need.

“It is not a human right to adopt a child for either a mixed-sex couple or a same-sex couple.”

Mr Poots believes the majority of people in Northern Ireland remain opposed to adoption rights for same-sex couples.

“What I look at it is where the Northern Ireland public are on these issues and what is in the best interests of the children,” he said.

“There is a lot of public opposition to it.”

His comments came as a gay couple living in County Antrim revealed they had been urged by a social worker to adopt their two boys from England – in order to bypass Northern Ireland’s gay adoption ban.

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Last year, Mr Poots also angered equality campaigners when he decided to retain Northern Ireland’s blanket ban that prevents gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

 

 

 

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