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Last update - 17:50 11/03/2009 Court grants gay couple right to adopt 30-year-old foster son By Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Uzi Even, adoption, gay  Openly gay former Knesset member Uzi Even and his life partner can legally adopt their 30-year-old foster son, the Tel Aviv family court ruled on Tuesday, making them the first same-sex male couple in the country whose right of adoption has been legally acknowledged. "We opened a door, an opening, a window for others," said Yossi Even-Kama, who was taken in by Even and his partner, Amit Kama, 14 years ago. "An opening of hope for the couples that will follow." Dori Spivak, the deputy director of the law clinic programs at Tel Aviv University, who assisted Even and Kama in the case, called this "the first case ever where the right of adoption was acknowledged not only for two women, but also for two men." Advertisement Even and Kama began the formal adoption process because Tel Aviv University refused to grant Even-Kama a tuition discount reserved for families of faculty members. Even is a chemistry professor at the university. "Our struggles are political but also very real," said Kama, an expert in communication theory. "I began my first struggle when I felt I was paying fines I didn't deserve, and in Yossi's case we're talking about tens of thousands of shekels." "But the true meaning of this is that the state and its authorities recognize us as a family," he said. "This legitimizes our daily lives, our feelings, our emotions." A social worker sent to assess the family also noted their evident affection. "The social worker was impressed by the feelings of love, affection and endless caring of the couple, and by the great love and gratitude the adopted [son] feels for them," the verdict states. Even-Kama moved in with Even and Kama at 16, after he came out of the closet and was driven out of his home because of his sexual orientation. "I grew up with both of my biological parents in Jaffa," said Even-Kama. "When I was 13 my mother and I escaped my violent father and moved to Rehovot, where she met another man. When I turned 16, I came out of the closet, and he had trouble accepting that." The same year, Even revealed in the Knesset that he was ejected from the Shin Bet security service when his employers discovered he was gay, after he had been working there for 15 years. "I decided to speak to the only homosexual I knew," said Even-Kama. "One day I went down to a public phone, all shivering, and called 'that professor from TV.'" When it became clear that his relationship with his family was not going to improve, Even and Kama offered the teenager the shelter of their home. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Talk to Hamas Senior U.S. officials are urging Obama to begin dialogue with Islamist group. Living large Disgraced Wall Street financier Madoff's net worth in 2008 was $823 million.   1.   why dont they have their own children? they r married, right? 05:22  |  Human 11/03/09   2.   Mazal tov! 07:44  |  hetero mom 11/03/09   3.   Marriage and children 08:16  |  mike davis 11/03/09   4.   #1 Human. Biological is not always the best parent. 08:28  |  Maureen Ann 11/03/09   5.   To critics: what do you want? 09:28  |  confident 11/03/09   6.   it`s about time! 09:50  |  rpc 11/03/09   7.   It`s a 200 Pound Boy! 10:08  |  Baruch Gold 11/03/09   8.   Is this the culmination of thousands of years of Jewish history? 10:40  |  Harvey 11/03/09   9.   Is this Isreal or SanFransisco? 12:18  |  Stu 11/03/09   10.   to #8 and #9 16:09  |  Jacob 11/03/09   11.   #5 is right on 18:48  |  Arik 11/03/09   12.   Israel, bravo! 21:03  |  Norwegian 11/03/09   13.   A great day for civil rights! 22:44  |  Z 11/03/09   14.   Nice to see common sense triumph every now and then 23:57  |  Colin Wright 11/03/09   15.   Welcome to Sodom 01:06  |  UsedToPostHere 12/03/09   16.   The Future of all the States that Already Tolerate this 01:07  |  UsedToPostHere 12/03/09   17.   Bye bye bigots. 15:03  |  Tony 15/03/09

Read & React Israel to Hamas: Deadline for Shalit deal is tonight Responses: 67 Gideon Levy / Don't protest for Shalit, protest for release of terrorists Responses: 99 Arabs view ICC indictment of Sudan president as act of imperialism Responses: 49 Zvi Bar'el: If we give in to Netanyahu from the start, Israel will become a footnote Responses: 37 More Headlines 20:50 Two Israelis found with critical gunshot wounds in Jordan Valley 18:25 Abbas aide: Israel never offered a serious two-state proposal 17:23 Hamas: No new developments in Shalit deal 09:11 Don't protest for Shalit, protest for release of terrorists 19:09 PA: No unity talks unless Hamas respects past accords with Israel 20:09 Among some Israeli teens, Facebook has become a forum for hate groups 01:21 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 14:02 ANALYSIS / Olmert using Netanyahu to pressure Hamas on Shalit deal 17:31 American in stable condition after seriously hurt in West Bank protest 16:49 Hundreds of pampered cats put on display at Petah Tikva festival 13:54 Police call off terror alert in south Tel Aviv 11:42 Britain denies entry to Hezbollah official 12:45 IDF to station troops in Hebron's 'House of Contention' 07:29 Likud leaders: Livni demand for rotation blocking unity coalition Previous Editions Select Day 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 08 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 01 mar

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