Achieving equality in parenting and adoption rights for LGBITQ families
The VGLRL believes that all children and parents should have the opportunity to live in a loving family. Same-sex couples can jointly adopt in New South Wales, the ACT, Western Australia and Tasmania but Victoria is yet to legalise joint adoption for same-sex couples.
While the vast majority of the recommendations of the 2007 Victorian Law Reform Commission’s inquiry into assisted reproductive technology and adoption have been implemented, the recommendations relating to adoption for same-sex couples remain outstanding.
The lack of access to adoption for same sex couples entrenches unacceptable discrimination in Victorian law and deprives the children of some LGBTIQ families the benefit of two legally recognised parents. That same-sex couples are permitted to foster children and be appointed legal guardians of children highlights the inconsistency and absurdity of the current laws.
The VGLRL lobbies for equality for same-sex parents to be able to jointly adopt children to facilitate both children and parents having the opportunity to live in a loving and diverse family. Legalising same-sex adoption would make a huge practical difference and very important symbolic difference to the lives of a number of children in Victoria.