Amsterdam Court Allows Single Woman to Adopt Child

An Amsterdam court has ruled that a single parent be allowed to
adopt a 7-year old Brazilian girl that had been living with her
for over 6 years. The decision met with approval from gay orga-
nisations, the child protection council, the board for emanci-
pation and youth issues. An earlier request was denied based on
a ruling by the Dutch supreme court from 1986 which upheld
Dutch adoption law which states to this day that only straight
married couples have a right to adopt. The court today moti-
vated its decision by stating that: "(as well as married cou-
ples) single parents too, can provide a stable home. Develope-
ments in society demand change in this area". The state is not
expected to appeal. In a reaction Mr. Boris O. Dittrich, judge
and openly gay member of parliament for the social-liberal
party D'66 applauded the court's decision, which is expected to
positively influence the outcome of a review in parliament of
the old adoption-law. Mr. Dittrich announced that he will ask
the government to also allow adoption to other categories of
prospective parents like gay couples. "The fact that some coun-
tries from which children are adopted do not agree with our
policies should not be a reason to back down on this one" he
said. The social democratic party PvdA argued for a complete
review of all laws relating to adoption and kinship. The Con-
servative-Liberal VVD, the third party in the ruling coalition,
gave no comment. Representatives from adoption-organisations
also applauded the court ruling but said the conclusion should
not be drawn that gay couples now or in the future will be
granted the right to adopt based on today's court decision.

***

International gay theater to be started in Amsterdam

Several months ago I passed on information concerning the "Sti-
chting Internationaal Homosexueel theater" founded in april
1993. IHTA's goals are:

- to stimulate active and passive participation in the develo-
pement of international homosexual culture.
- to increase the personal and social solidarity of homosexuals
both internationally and nationally
- to fight discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual preferen-
ce, ethnic origine and religion and
- to provide working opportunities, whenever possible, and job
contracts.

The center focuses on female and male homosexuality. In this
international meeting-place, artists will develope many art
disciplines. The purpose of the center is to have a place where
gay people can be themselves and will serve an international
function, for the crative participants as well as for the spec-
tators.

IHTA can be contacted via:
phone: ++31-20-6939514

adddress: 
Koninginneweg 52
NL-1091 DE Amsterdam
The Netherlands

They do not have any email-access. Any reactions via e-mail you
can send to me privately and I will pass your messages on to
the organisation.

Source: IHTA-publications.



Love from Holland,

Bert Schuur

e-mail berts@xs4all.nl