Colombian court rules for gay adoptive dad

• Tweet

BOGOTA, May 23 (UPI) -- A Colombian court has restored custody of adopted sons to a homosexual man, opening the door for gay adoptions.

The Constitutional Court found that the country's Family Welfare Institute simply assumed the father's sexual orientation was a threat to the two boys and did not give any reasons, Colombia Reports said. The court said the agency "cannot rely on appearances, preconceptions or prejudices" when it removes children from their homes.

Chandler Burr, a U.S. citizen, has been separated from his sons since March 2011. The court said the institute ignored the boys' wish to be with their father.

The ruling appears to open the door to adoptions in Colombia by otherwise fit gay parents.

Colombia Diversa, a gay rights organization tweeted: "Individual adoption legitimized for LGBT persons in Colombia with Burr case."