A law that has been promoted by Uruguay's gay rights groups may not actually allow same-sex couples to adopt. According to a Sept. 15 article by Associated Press writer Raul O. Garces, thelaw -- which is currently awaiting President Tabare Vazquez's signature --does not directly address the rights of gay or lesbian couples:

[G]ay rights groups have been celebrating the prospect that Uruguay could become the first country in Latin America to give gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to adopt.

But nowhere in the law does it specifically say that homosexual couples have a right to adopt. And in some places, it suggests otherwise - for example by specifying how the child should take a mother and father's surnames.

Lawyers, judges and even the law's own authors now have doubts about how the law will be applied.

Though many are questioning the ability of the law to provide for same-sex adoption, the bill's author said that it will accomplish just that, Garces reported:

Deputy Margarita Percovich, who wrote the law, acknowledged that it doesn't directly mention same-sex adoptions, but said it would enable them because gays and lesbians already can legally form civil unions, and "the law enables couples in civil unions to adopt children without impediment."

Labels: international, same-sex couples

Posted By: Aspen/CRC