Gay spouses become first same-sex couple in Germany to adopt
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A gay married couple has become the first same-sex pair to adopt a child in Germany.
Michael and Kai Korok, who live in Berlin, were told by authorities today that their adoption has been approved, the Lesbian and Gay Association Berlin-Brandenburg said.
They have cared for their son since shortly after his birth, according to The Associated Press.
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Michael and Kai were among the first partners to get married after same-sex marriage officially became legal in Germany at the beginning of this month.
They have been fostering children for several years.
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The couple, who live in Berlin, had previously planned to challenge the legal hurdles in their way, until they were cleared in June.
After years of campaigning, things moved swiftly with a vote being announced, carried out and successfully passed in a matter of days.
Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her Christian Democratic Union party a free vote in the proposal put forward by the Social Democrats – though Merkel herself voted against the legislation.
The vote passed in the Bundestag by a clear majority.
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393 members of parliament voted in favour of the bill, with 296 voting against and 4 abstentions.
Previously, same-sex couples could not get married but instead only enter into civil unions.
The quick movement towards the snap vote came before the general election in Germany last month.
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The election saw Germany’s far-right anti-gay party win seats in the country’s Parliament for the first time in more than half a century.
Merkel will remain in office for a fourth term.
The Greens, Linke, and Free Democrats all vocally backed same-sex marriage and said they would not have entered into a coalition government unless the law was changed.
