Law on adoption by gays rejected

Slovenians have rejected a law that would have let homosexuals adopt children of their partners, preliminary partial results of a referendum showed.

The previous parliament, dominated by a centre-left coalition, included the right in a family law passed in June 2011.

However, the conservative group the Civil Initiative for Family and Children’s Rights opposed the change and forced a national referendum on the issue.

Preliminary results showed 56.5 per cent of voters were against the law while 43.5 per cent supported it.

Although the law would not allow gay couples to adopt children from a third party, conservative groups, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, wanted it annulled. – (Reuters)