Government fails to take stand on gay adoptions

The Czech government on Wednesday failed to take a stand on draft legislation allowing registered partners to adopt children, deputy prime minister Pavel Bělobrádek said. The government’s legislative body initially suggested the bill, put forward by 25 MPs from several parties, be approved. However, the cabinet did not take a position on the legislation over opposition from Christian Democrat ministers who said no new bill was needed as adoptions by gay couples can be dealt with on the basis of existing law. In 2011, some 900 children lived in households of gay and lesbian couples, according to data from the official population census.

Author: Ruth Fraňková