Germany’s highest court ruled Tuesday that one gay member of a couple could adopt his or her partner’s stepchild or adopted child — a significant judicial boost to the nation’s same-sex adoption law
Before the ruling, a gay member of a couple could only adopt his or her significant other’s biological child, according to a story in The Associated Press.
The ruling, from the Federal Constitutional Court, is “a breakthrough in equal treatment,” said Volker Beck, an openly gay lawmaker with the opposition Greens, in the AP report.
Germany, which has allowed same-sex civil partnerships — but not full-fledged marriages — since 2001, has until June to bring forth new legislation reflecting the judge’s ruling, AP reports.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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