Sweden to allow gay adoption

Gay couples in Sweden will be allowed to legally adopt children beginning February 1, the justice ministry announced Thursday, according to a report by Agence France-Presse. The country's parliament passed a bill in June allowing the adoptions, but until Thursday the justice ministry had not said when the new law would go into effect. Under the new law gay couples who have entered into a legal partnership will be able to apply to adopt a child. The law also allows for one partner to adopt the biological child of the other partner.