Removing limitations on adoption (Illustration)
Photo: Index Open
State to help same-sex couples adopt
Welfare Ministry formulates plan aimed at facilitating child adoption process for same-sex couples and single parents in Israel
The Welfare Ministry has decided to facilitate the process of child adoption for same-sex couples and single-parent families in Israel, and has recently granted 30 lesbian couples permission to adopt a child together, or to adopt their partner's child.
Until recently, same-sex and single-parent families have suffered legal discrimination, as the law in Israel permits only "normative" households, namely those composed of a man and a woman, to adopt in Israel.
However, a committee founded by Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog to review the issue has formulated a new plan that would enable gays and singles to adopt children in the country. Those wishing to do so would be required to undergo routine tests to evaluate their parenting abilities, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Herzog's initiative was lauded by organizations that support same-sex families. Attorney Ira Hadar, one of the leaders of the legal struggle for same-sex families who herself adopted children with her partner, said that the new plan would make life easier "for thousands lesbian families and dozens of gay families that raise children together but are not registered as their adopting parents."
