Austrian court strikes down ban on gay adoption
The Austrian Constitutional Court has lifted a ban on adoption by same-sex couples.
Austrians in same-sex relationships could previously only adopt the biological children of their partners’ since 2013, but could not jointly adopt non-biological children.
Head of the court, Gerhart Holzinger, said: “This is no justification for difference in treatment because of sexual orientation.”
Previously only married couples were allowed to adopt, and Austria does not have same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples can form a “registered partnership” which does not have the same benefits as marriage.
Austria hit headlines last year for Conchita Wurst’s win at Eurovision, but it is still a largely conservative country on the subject of gay rights.
