Hungary Moves to Reopen Adoption Route for Gay and Lesbian People

Hungary is preparing to reopen a route to adoption for gay and lesbian people, marking a potentially significant step forward for LGBTQ+ prospective parents in the country.

The change would remove a system that has made adoption extremely difficult for single applicants since 2020. For gay and lesbian people, that matters because adoption as an individual had previously provided a route to parenthood even though same-sex couples could not adopt jointly.

A major barrier could now be removed

Prime Minister Péter Magyar confirmed on Saturday that the government intends to change the current system and move adoption decisions away from ministerial approval.

Under rules introduced in late 2020, single people hoping to adopt had to receive approval from the family affairs minister. Reuters reports that, in practice, the requirement effectively closed the adoption route to many gay and lesbian applicants.

Before those restrictions were introduced, one person in a same-sex couple could apply to adopt as an individual. The planned change would remove the additional political stage and return greater responsibility to professionals assessing whether someone is suitable to care for a child.

What this could mean for LGBTQ+ families

For gay and lesbian people who have considered adoption, removing that extra barrier could make the process significantly more accessible again.

The announcement does not introduce joint adoption for same-sex couples, so it is important not to overstate the change. Instead, it could restore the possibility for an LGBTQ+ person to apply individually and be assessed through the professional adoption process without first facing an additional ministerial decision.

That distinction still makes the development significant. For prospective parents who may have felt that adoption was effectively closed to them, the proposed change could reopen a genuine path towards building a family.

Hungary still has restrictions affecting LGBTQ+ people, and the final details of the adoption changes have yet to be introduced. However, the latest announcement points towards a more inclusive approach in which prospective parents could once again be judged primarily on whether they can provide a safe, stable and loving home.

For LGBTQ+ people hoping to become parents, that could make a very real difference.