Sir Elton may be able to care for ‘baby Lev’ after all
Sir Elton John has been given new hope in his bid to adopt a Ukrainian toddler after it was announced that he could look after 14 month of toddler ‘Lev’.
Authorities have come up with a compromise that would allow him to raise the child in the UK.
The 14 month old Ukrainian toddler, who is HIV positive, has been the centre of a media storm since the 62 year old pop singer Elton John announced that he wished to adopt the child.
Earlier this week the Orthodox Church in Ukraine said that gay singer Sir Elton John is “a sinner” and should not be allowed to adopt a child from one of the country’s orphanages.
The singer has not made a formal adoption application, but admitted that a boy he met while visiting an institution had “stolen his heart” and changed his mind about adopting a child.
In reaction to the announcement, Ukraine’s family, youth and sports minister, Yuri Pavlenko, said the country’s laws would not allow it because Sir Elton is too old and in a same-sex relationship.
However, Mr Pavlenko announced yesterday that Sir Elton “has the right and opportunity to invite the family of this boy to visit him, take them under his guardianship and help him grow into a good person.”
If the popstar decides to care for the child it is likely that the child’s living mother and brother will have regular access and support from the celebrity couple.
The former Soviet republic does not formally recognise civil partnerships, barring Elton and his partner David Furnish from adopting.
Sir Elton met Lev at an orphanage for children whose parents had fallen victim to Aids.
Ukraine has the fastest-rising HIV infection rate in Europe
Since 1991 Ukraine, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has had an equal age of consent and homosexuality was decriminalised at that time.
However, there are no specific protections for LGBT minorities, and the deeply socially conservative country is generally dominated by the Orthodox church.
Earlier this year the Ukraine culture ministry banned the film ‘Bruno.’ which featured, amongst many other celebrities, Sir Elton John.
