iDnes.cz: First Czech same-sex couple to foster parent a child

Prague, June 10 (CTK) - The first registered same sex couple in the Czech Republic can look after a child in foster care though officially only one of the partners has the foster parent's status, the iDnes.cz server has reported.

Homosexual and unmarried couples namely must not take a child in foster care under Czech legislation.

Labour and Social Affairs Ministry Viktorie Plivove said it was the first case in which the selected applicant was clearly assessed also in view of his homosexual orientation.

"The applicant was assessed together with his partner with whom he is living in registered partnership. However, only one of the partners, who applied for foster care and was included in the register of applicants, was selected as a suitable foster parent," she told the iDnes.cz server.

The child is disabled and the authorities failed to find another foster family for the child, Plivova said but she refused to elaborate with regard to the foster parents' privacy.

This case should have been solved on regional level since the ministry is dealing only with the children for whom regions failed to find a foster family.

Marie Vodickova, head of the Children in Need fund, welcomed the breakthrough decision. She said it would be definitely better for the child than staying in institutional care.

On the contrary, Ales Dietrich, chairman of Association of Foster Families, is of the view that a homosexual family would be another handicap for the child who was brought up in a children's home.

Under Czech law, a person living in a registered partnership must not adopt a child. However, if one of the partners in registered partnership is looking after a child, his/her partner can participate in the child's upbringing. The law does not mention foster care in this respect.

Over 1100 same-sex couples concluded registered partnership in the 10.5-million Czech Republic as of March, 2011.

The law on registered partnership came into force on July 1, 2006.

The PROUD (Stream) platform, which started working in the Czech Republic in May, wants to fight for an equal position of homosexuals, transsexuals and other minorities. It is also striving for the right of gays and lesbians to adopt children.