Watch the Nov. 30th broadcast of Prime News
In South Africa, a court has denied a gay couple right to adopt…but quite surprisingly, it was for a really good reason. It’s not in the child’s best interest to have one openly gay parent and a closeted one…who live apart.
The two prospective adoptive men have been together for ten years and wanted to have a child with a surrogate mother. The men were before a judge because in South Africa, surrogacy agreements have to be approved by a court before adoption rights are granted.
While the two men have been partners for a decade, one of the prospective fathers is not out of the closet. The two men, who live separately to hide their relationship, were only identified in court as CJD and HN.
Judge Ronel Tolmay declined the agreement saying the closeted relationship could harm the child’s psychological well being.
She said, “I can see a little toddler excitedly running towards his father in public, shouting out: ‘daddy’. Would the father pretend not to be the parent? How will this impact on the child?” she said in the decision.
She further commented :: “No one can judge a gay person who, because of persisting public prejudice, is reluctant to reveal his sexual orientation. However, the court must always place the rights of the child first.
The judge is known for progressive decisions and regularly championed LGBTQ causes as a lawyer before ascending to the bench.
