Israel OKs Right of
Male Couple to Adopt

The Tel Aviv family court ruled Tuesday that an Israeli man and his life partner may legally adopt their adult foster son. Uzi Even (pictured), a former Knesset member, and Amit Kama became the first gay male couple in the country to have their right to adoption legally recognized, according to the newspaper Haaretz.

Even and Kama took in their 30-year-old son, Yossi Even-Kama, 14 years ago, after he was shunned by his biological family for being gay. The couple began adoption proceedings when Tel Aviv University, where Even is a chemistry professor, refused to give Even-Kama the tuition discount offered to families of faculty members.

Law experts described the case as the first in which the right of two men to adopt was acknowledged in Israel, where female couples previously have been allowed to adopt. According to the verdict, a social worker who visited Even-Kama at home was impressed by the love and warmth observed among the family.