BRUSSELS, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Belgium, where same-sex marriage is already legal, is on its way to approving adoption by homosexual couples.
The lower house of parliament approved the measure 77-62, the BBC reported. It must also pass the upper house before it can take effect.
Sweden and Spain are the only European countries where adoption by same-sex couples is legal. Backers of the proposed law say many gay couples are adoptive parents but without any legal protection.
The law would allow gay couples to become the legal parents of children from anywhere in the world, although they would still have to meet the requirements of countries that limit who may adopt.
Almost 6,000 gay couples in Belgium are believed to have married since the law on same-sex marriage was changed two years ago.
