French court allows married lesbians to adopt children born through assisted reproduction

PARIS – France’s highest court has ruled that married lesbians are allowed to adopt their partner’s child born through in vitro fertilization or other medically assisted reproduction.

The Cour de Cassation’s ruling is a consequence of the legalization of gay marriage in France last year.

France allows assisted reproduction only for heterosexual couples who have been together at least two years. The restriction has sent many gay couples abroad — many of them going to neighbouring Belgium or Spain to have access to fertility treatment.

Upon return to France, French law recognized only the birth mother as the legal parent.

The court ruled Tuesday that married lesbians may adopt children born by their partners through assisted reproduction performed outside of France.