GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Late last week, a same-sex couple has completed what is thought to be Australia’s first adoption by a gay couple in Western Australia.

The adoption was able to take place following changes that were made to the Western Australian Adoption Act in 2002. Under the changes made, same-sex couples are successfully able to adopt children.

David Vicary from the Department of Child Protection's Accommodation and Care Services said “This was a local WA adoption and the biological parents were fully involved in the selection process for the adoptive parents�.

Jim McGinty, Western Australian Governor-General described the successful completion of the adoption as “groundbreaking�, and emphasized that although the adoption was likely to receive opposition, the child’s best interests were at heart throughout the adoption process.

“So long as the child is in a loving, caring relationship I don't think he can ask for much more than that.

“In the last few weeks in Australia we've had three babies been deserted, left at churches, left at hospitals.

“What we need to do is have loving relationships where the parents love and care for the child. That's the only criteria that needs to be employed, not the sexual orientation of the parent.�

News of the adoption has been welcomed by gay communities across Australia, hoping that this adoption is the first of many that ultimately eventuates under the changed legislation.