First gay couple in Japan approved to be foster parents

City officials say the men — one in his 30s and the other in his 40s — were approved in December after being vetted by an expert panel. They were also scrutinized by a child consultation center and given an orientation on the foster parent program.

The pair now has a child. The officials say the program has no provisions regarding the foster parents’ gender. They say the city based its decision on the expert panel’s report.

The welfare ministry says this may be the first time that a same-sex couple has qualified to be foster parents.

The program allows foster parents to raise children for a certain period of time without legally adopting them.

Source and image: NHK