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Letter to Members of Parliament calls for public consultation on gay adoption
Group says Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli should publish research and studies carried by the LGBT consultative council.
17 February 2014, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
1 min read
A group of mothers involved in the educational and social sectors have sent a letter to the Members of Parliament prior to the discussion about amendments the Civil Unions Bill, calling for more public involvement in the discussion on same-sex adoption.
The document - signed by hundreds of persons - raises concern about the 'rights' of the child versus those of the couple, that rearing children in same sex couples might lead to difficulties and that this issue must be considered within a broader aspect of surrogacy. Furthermore, it calls for consultation and discussion with the public, in the interest of transparency and accountability in the process of legislating.
During the last Parliamentary Committee meeting, Minister for Social Dialogue Helena Dalli said that the Government had set up a consultative council, which carried out research and studies over a period of months, before drafting the Civil Unions Bill.
The group maintains that it is in the public's interest to know more about that research and how conclusions were reached, particularly as they pertain to the rights of minors who they claim are being overlooked.
The Parliamentary Committee for the Consideration of Bills will reconvene on Tuesday 18 February at which time the signatures collected will be presented to the minister.
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Has the group ever thought of discussing the rearing up of children by same sex persons as nuns, for example? Can two sisters or two brothers adopt? Yes! But they are of the same sex! Is it ok for two men or two women who are not gay to adopt? Why all this homophobic, racist dialogue. The law stipulates exactly who could adopt. It has nothing to do with the Civil Union Bill! Why not write to the members of parliament before the Civil Union Bill was proposed. Obviously full-blown homophobia, which should be drastically condemned.
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If these women are so concerned and obviously clever, why don't they conduct their own research ? The minister and the rest of the population might be enlightened with their finds.
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peppi x you beat me to it. While I have my reservations, this simply shows the HYPOCRISY of those who are doing everything to put the Labour Government in bad light with their damned lies and misinformation.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
Probably these people are targeting the wrong Bill, as the actual Act which deals with the adoption of children is the Adoption Act which ALREADY ALLOWS single parents, including gays, to adopt children. What is being included in the present bill is not the RIGHT of gay couples to adopt but the right to APPLY for such adoption.. a right which single gays are ALREADY GIVEN under the present Adoption Bill.
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What about the right of a child to be adopted by the same-sex couple whom he or she recognises as parents? What about the idea that raising a child by (say) religious parents MIGHT lead to difficulties?
