UK News 17-10-2002 Lords Throw Out Gay Adoption Law who: The House of Lords what: Vote to continue ban on adoption by same-sex couples where: House of Lords, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Conservative peers and bishops joined forces in the Lords last night," reports The Telegraph, "to block Government plans to allow unmarried, homosexual and lesbian couples to adopt children." "Despite the urgent need to find parents for these children," says The Scotsman, the Lords voted 196 votes to 162 to keep the ban, a majority of 34, following a public campaign launched by the Christian Institute. "The organisation has suggested the use of organ-style donor cards which read: `In the event of my death I do not want my children to be adopted by homosexuals`." The Adoption and Children Bill began as "the personal mission of [Tony] Blair to improve the chances of the 5,000 children in care and in need of adoption," says The Times. In The House of Lords, Baroness O`Cathain led opposition to the Bill, arguing that "children adopted by gay couples would be mocked at school and could be at risk of abuse from their new parents". "Wednesday`s vote will come as a particular blow to Lord Alli," says the BBC. "The Labour peer, who is gay, gave a personal commitment to becoming an adoptive parent with his long term partner if the law was changed." [... more]

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