In Australia, same-sex adoption is determined not at a federal level, but at a state or territory level. Currently, same-sex adoption is only legal in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Tasmania and Western Australia. Queensland, the Northern Territory, Victoria and South Australia are yet to legalize same-sex adoption.
This lack of legal recognition has prompted Shaun and his family to set up an electronic petition to help gather support for same-sex adoption, and in particular to help legalize same-sex adoption in South Australia.
Shaun said: “We worry, often, about the future, and how it is that we will come to explain to our children that the State, the community they live in and contribute to, defines their family as lesser, unrecognized, dismissed in the eyes of the law.
“Finally, we should all agree that in this day and age children should be taught about equality, given techniques to avoid discrimination and the confidence to help others understand where their own prejudice is drawn from.
“Please sign this petition, so that someone, somewhere will see the need to bring about this change in South Australia.”
The heart-felt letter is signed by all members of Shaun’s family: “Shaun, Blue, Joshi and Dylan x”.
