- The Washington Times - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Russia on Wednesday called the adoption of a Russian boy by a woman who revealed she was gay only after the adoption proceedings had wrapped up a “serious worry,” according to various media reports.

Konstantin Dolgoy, Russia’s human rights envoy, said the boy now is facing circumstances with his gay American family that are “harmful to his psychological health,” according to a report by Raw Story.

Russia does not allow gay marriage.

The woman, Marcia Ann Brandt, was “living in a same-sex marriage with a Beth Chapman” but opted against revealing this information during adoption proceedings for the Russian boy, Yegor Shatabalov, in 2007, Mr. Dolgov said in the Raw Story report. The same-sex situation came to light in 2009, when the two women ended the relationship and argued in court for custody of the boy, Mr. Dolgov said, according to Raw Story.

“[The boy] was sucked into an argument over a relationship that was quite dubious from the moral point of view,” he said, according to Raw Story. “We believe that Yegor’s situation is unacceptable and harmful to his psychological health.”

The report doesn’t specify Russian officials’ desired outcome, only that they are unhappy with the situation.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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