The man, a year-old pathologist, has been dating a man of the same age since The couple - both Singapore citizens - began cohabiting in and currently reside with the child and a domestic helper in a condominium here, according to court documents.
The couple had initially wanted to adopt but were advised by agencies that their homosexual orientation would hinder success. The boy was then brought to Singapore on a long-term visit pass, but an early application for Singapore citizenship was denied. The couple then approached the Ministry of Social and Family Development MSF for advice and were told their prospects would be enhanced if the child was legally adopted. In December , the biological father applied as a single parent to adopt the child.
A joint adoption by two men is not allowed under Singapore law. In a statement provided to Channel NewsAsia, the man said: "This has been a long and difficult journey for our family. We are happy and relieved with the High Court's ruling. We hope that with the adoption order, it will increase the chances of our son residing in Singapore for the long term. Local law does not expressly ban surrogacy, but healthcare institutions are not allowed to provide assisted reproduction services for surrogacy.
CJ Menon also noted that granting an adoption order to the man would not be contrary to public policy encouraging heterosexual family units as optimal parenting conditions - because the policy did not logically entail opposing other forms of parenthood.
He also said no weight could be given to public policy against formation of same-sex family units as this policy did not arise from the Adoption of Children Act. At the same time, CJ Menon wrote, nothing indicated that the man had set out deliberately to violate any law or public policy.
