ACT moves to allow gay couples to adopt

Another Australian government is moving to enable gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.

The ACT has proposed law reforms to remove discrimination in the Adoption Act.

The Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced the ACT could be the second jurisdiction in Australia to make a number of legislative changes giving same sex couples equal adoption rights.

"The adoption law is quite explicit, it says that only a heterosexual couple may adopt children," he said.

"That's discrimination."

Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community says the reforms will promote the interests of children.

Spokeswoman Lindy Edwards.

"This legislation is not about creating gay families," said community spokeswoman Lindy Edwards.

"It's about giving the thousands of gay famiilies that do exist the tools to fully meet their responsibilities to their children.

"For example if the child gets sick, despite being a primary carer the non-biological parent can't authorise medical treatment. It also means that the child isn't recognised as financially dependent on that non-biological parent."

But Dean Logan from the Australian Christian Lobby says the Government appears to have overlooked community opposition to the proposal.

"This affects our entire social fabric. At the Anzac day dawn service, Australians need to question is this what our diggers went to fight for? Is this where Australia's going? Is this what we want?"

Western Australia was the first jurisdiction to give same sex couples the right to adopt children.

Also about bloody time. Some diggers were certainly gay and that should not be denied in a pathetic attempt to raise opposition to this bill.