Russia Stops Adoptions To Sweden, Seeks Agreement Barring Gay Couples From Adopting

Russia does not want its children falling into the hands of gay parents -- so much so that the country has opted to ban all Swedish parents from adopting.

Swedish The Local reports that Moscow halted all adoptions to the Scandinavian country this week. The prohibition is part of a recent court decision that disallows any foreign country that recognizes same-sex unions, or affords adoption rights to gay couples, from taking in a Russian child.

Russia will now seek legal agreements with each of these countries to ensure that only heterosexual couples are allowed to adopt. As Sveriges Television notes, negotiations between Russia and Sweden began Thursday.

The gay adoption ban, signed into law by President Vladimir Putin in July, aims to guarantee a "harmonious and full upbringing for children in adoptive families," the Kremlin said in statement released at the time. However, the ban instead feeds into Russia's recent push for anti-gay legislation.

Last month, a Russian lawmaker proposed a law that would deny gay parents in Russia custody of their children. The draft bill follows Russia's highly publicized ban on gay propaganda that may affect athletes and spectators during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Author: Sara Gates