Colombia’s constitutional court on Wednesday ruled that gay US journalist Chandler Burr will be permitted to continue being the father of his adopted Colombian sons.
Colombian media reported that the court has rejected a petition put forward by Colombia’s Inspector General’s office, which sought to have the adoption made invalid on account of Burr’s sexuality. All actions dictated by the Colombian family welfare institute, attempting to hinder the adoption process, were also ordered to be dropped immediately.
The decision will not be subject to appeal and the court determined that this would be “the final delivery of the children to their adoptive father,” Radio Caracol reported.
Burr’s adoption of two Colombian brothers was finalized in 2011, however when his sexual orientation came to light, the process was plagued by a series of complications.
MORE: Colombian court allows adoption by gay father
The American initially made contact with the welfare institute in 2009, to request the adoption of the two brothers, aged 13 and 8, in 2009 after having mentored them as part of the program “Kidsave”, which provides support to abandoned children.
The adoption was made official on March, 24, 2011; however a few days later, when Burr was planning to return to the US, the family welfare institute learned that Burr was gay and suspended the adoption. The boys were temporarily cared for by a surrogate family until Burr regained custody of the children in December 2011.
Sources
- Corte dejó en firme custodia de 2 menores a periodista gay estadounidense (Radio Caracol)
- Justicia avala primera adopción por un homosexual en Colombia (Terra)
