Elton John Cannot Adopt Baby Boy
Filed under: Gay Gay Gay > Baby Blabber > Elton John
Oh, no!
As we reported earlier today, Elton John and his partner David Furnish were ready to begin the process of adopting Lev, a Ukrainian toddler.
But the Ukrainian government has very strict adoption rules and it appears that not even Sir Elton can break them!
John and Furnish have been united under a civil partnership in the UK since 2005, but Ukrainian law states that a couple must be legally married.
Additionally they ban gay couples from adopting and potential parents must not be 45 years older than the child they wish to adopt.
That's 3 strikes against the couple!
There is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, however.
If Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko grants a presidential dispensation, they would be able to bring baby Lev home on the condition that they adopt his brother as well, who is also at the orphanage. We are unsure how likely this request would be granted, though.
This is a real shame. They would be able to provide Lev with a fantastic life!
[Image via AP Images.]
That would suck
sucks for him
It is very sad that this child will likely end up dying in an orphanage, not receiving the proper medical treatment that could prolong his life just because the couple willing to take care of him is gay. I understand rules needing to be in place to make sure children aren't trafficked or harmed but intensive home visits, screening, etc. should be sufficient enough to allow adoptions to gay couples.
why does he have to buy a child in ukraine? can't he just order it via ebay or wtf?
Gays shouldn't be allowed to adapt.
elton should adopt his brother too. why would he want to take away lev's only blood relative?
Elton John is CRAZY. Perez, just because he's rich doesn't mean he would make a good parent.
I'm baaaaack … Sneaking in the window. Flying under the radar. Barbara banned me. Perez still sucks.
When will people understand that LOVE IS LOVE no matter the gender.
Jeez pervez, seems as the Ukraine is have a 2 for 1 sale! Money is what makes all of these celebrity adoptions keep moving. Her Royal Highness Sir Elton is just another talented famewhore, that's why you relate (not the talent, but the famewhore part)
I just don't understand how they can deny this child a better life! I understand that laws exist to protect children but they are doing the opposite in this case!!
Re: Mad Dog – Gays shouldn't adapt? I think they have adapted quite nicely.
It's people like you who shouldn't adopt - I can only imagine what you would teach a child. Spelling would not be on the top of the list for sure!
Being rich wouldn't make him a good parent - but does it make him a bad one?
Given the choice of two families - I would go with the rich one!
Wish them well and hope they get to adopt both boys and change their lives for the better for all involved!
That's so sad
oh that sucks! that kid could either die in an orphanage, or WIN the freaking LIFE LOTTERY! I hope they let them adopt him. I bet they would lavish him with love and attention.
Hey Elton…. dont you think you are a little too old to become a father? just saying
Makes me sad
Re: Mad Dog – You also make me sad, idiot.
Let's be honest. They're too old to adopt… Would you like to have a dad that could be your grandfather ? I mean, the baby would be an orphan AGAIN before he's 20 ! And it's not like if there were no other choice than an old couple to raise this child (in that case, a 62 year old dad is better than no dad at all), people are waiting years and years on a list to adopt young children like little Lev… So I personnaly think that the baby should be adopted by a younger couple (I don't care if they married or not, if they're gay or straight, but young enough is so important !).
How could he adopt the kid and separate the two brothers and only take one? that's douchery waiting to happen, shouldn't matter if he's gay tho.
As an adoptive parent myself, I disagree on the front that both partners are not married but do agree on the age restriction.
that baby looks you Perez ,cute
It's OK, a 50 year old Ukranian alcoholic pedophile and his 16 year old needle using wife will adopt the child. The child will have a better life with them!
boo
the baby is cute 
Even if they don't live to be 100, Lev is MUCH better off in the home of two loving parents (gay, straight, transgender, etc.), than the life he is destined to live in the orphanage. If wealthy, responsible, fit parents happen to have the pull and the power to make something like this happen why does anyone care?? It's the much faster that they are able to rescue another forgotten child. Yes, there are PLENTY of people out there who want to adopt and would gladly do so but it is a cost issue in most cases and there are FAR more children out there who need good homes than there are homes available at this time. The idiot who commented that gays should not "adapt" is an F-ing moron. I think he should learn to adapt to society and adopt some English lessons.
:( Poor Elton and poor Lev,
Re: witchylily –
I would agree and understand what you are saying. However, Perez's post leaves out is a vital piece of this story. This child is HIV+, so there may not necessarily be people banging down the door to adopt him. I would imagine his sibling is also HIV+. The medical care that is vital to giving this child a long life is something Elton John could easily afford.
While I think the "gay" rule is stupid (because anyone can be loving parents), I can kind of see where the government is coming from with the other rules. Most countries have an age limitation rule for adoption and it makes sense. Think about-Elton is in his sixties-he'll be lucky to get even 20 years with the child and we can all make the argument that this is 20 years not spent in an orphanage but they simply cannot rule out the fact that someone else may want to adopt Lev who is much younger than Elton. As for the marriage rule, a civil union should trump it but I can see why a country would like a married couple-representing a stable home- to adopt. While it would seem easy to bend the rules for rich celebrities, I have to say I'm sick of rules being bent for them (Madonna, I'm looking at you). In the case of adoption, rules are not meant to be broken.
I am all for gay adoption, but however I am not for a couple aged 45 or older adopting a child. It is not fair to the child to have parents that aren't going to live long enough to see him raise a family.
Being that he is gay, I thought he could have checked adoption rules before making an annoucement to the whole wide world.
Re: Mad Dog –
gays shouldn't be allowed to adapt? Looks like you can't adapt. Sounds like you shouldn't reproduce and maybe should go back to the 4th grade.
this babe is sosososososososo cute
awww so cute! Thomas the tank engine!!!!
Re: Toronto Toto – racist
Lev is SOOOO CUTE and full of life! I'll adopt him for Elton and David!
Why are celebs always adopting from other countries?
There are plenty of kids that desperately need a new loving home but are actually in the same country, from the top of my head i can count so many celeb couples that have adopted from foreign poverty stricken countries, it's lovely that they're helping these kids but charity starts at home too. I really don't understand this fad on adopting foreign kids, unless your own country has the gays can't adopt or whatever what's wrong with our own kids? As for age, i don't think it's too much of an issue unless you're poor, with little or no family and too old to care for them yourself. If he has a strong family that can still care for the kid when he's gone i don't see the problem.
Who cares if they're gay or not married, but really, isn't Elton in his 60's now?? Does he really want the responsibility?? I love the guy, I just don't see someone that old becoming a first time parent without saying—"Oh god what have I done?"
Elton john is notorious for being nasty and rude to people. I think he would be Joan Crawfordish.
Wait, he is too old to adopt unless he takes the brother? That's weird. While I applaud his efforts to give this child a good home, Elton is in his 60's. Does he realize the work that would go into raising two small children? Although I am sure he would probably have 30 nannies.
i hope that they can adopt him, but they should be wanting to adopt both children. siblings shouldn't be separated… especially since he can afford both.
Thats wack. ayebeclear.com
Give these 2 little boys a loving home.
Even though Elton John is 62, is it better to leave them in an orphanage?
It's just sad.
Too bad they are deniying a better life for that baby!
Elton has the means to give these children a much better home than growing up in an HIV orphanage. And at his age, he has sewed his wild oats and settled down – something a lot of parents don’t do before having children. David Furnish is 46 – plenty young enough to be there for the kiddos should Elton expire in the next couple of decades. I hope Elton and David are able to pull this one off for the sake of the kiddos.
The ignorant bigots of this world continue to get in the way of progress…..and in this case, provide a FANTASTIC life and upbringing for 2 little boys who otherwise have very little hope.
This world needs more progressives…….!!!
Elton lambasted U.S. gays for pushing for full marriage, saying there was no difference between civil partnerships and Marriage, that he had a civil partnership in Britain and it was just as good and why did the U.S. gays want full marriage…..
Well Elton, I guess you just found out why civil partnership isn't as good now didn't you?
This isn't even right. I'm sure they would make good parents for baby Lev. He even looks like Elton!
Who cares that he prefers starfish to tuna. He is too fucking old to adopt a kid.
Re: Toronto Toto – how dare you insinuate such a thing! who the hell do you think you are? You clearly know nothing about Ukraine or the Ukrainian people. Learn the facts before you say anything like that.
It is so sad that people would rather have children spend their lives at orphanages or bad foster care than to loving couples that are PURSUING them. I'm a little baffled though that Elton & David wouldn't have tried to adopt the little guy's brother too in the first place…
so sorry but i agree, gays shold not be raising babies. I dont think a child can grow up normally in that type of household. I like gay people, no disrespect but I think that children are very impressionable from a young age, other children can be downright mean, kids internalize alot, I would expect a child in a gay household would really need a psychotherapist to help them through their emotions~
AWWW!!! thats just sad cause that babie is sooooo!!! cute!! i want to be his mother!!!
oh yes the fact that elton is in his 60's makes the whole thing much worse. That is simply crazy. I dont agree with women having children much passed 42 or so either. Its simply to old, its not right for the child, I hear stories about women in their 50's going for IVF WTF is wrong with people! children take a load of time and energy, and a whole lot of patience. Im sure someone will step in and adopt this child and his brother but elton is simply too old for that. He said it himself.
If I had the ability I would make sure that these three men spend their lives together. Now, I would want this baby to be raised not as an "only" child, he looks "lively" But, I would have to have some type of authority to be able to help my good friend. I wish I could, Dew-do. I'll start praying for this situation to be resolved, in the meantime look for who he is attached to in the nursery. It won't be so scary to take him "away" on his own. And two kids are more fun than one. And don't stop there if you can prove somehow, with your team of lawyers, that you can afford the care that this child needs…..
Your reputation as a loving, caring and nuturing parent figure cannot be disputed. My OWN parents were seniors when I was born. I turned out just fine. TRailer PArk FIne…..
Love and prayers to this "almost" complete family,
Anya Blah, blah, blah…
That's so horrible and wrong. That little baby deserves a home where he will be loved and cared for, and I think we all know that David and Elton could give him that!! It's just not right that they would rather that baby rot in an orphanage than go home with a MARRIED COUPLE that happen to both be men!
kid would be better off raised by wolves. If I woke up at about age 3 and realized my dad was that tweep, I'd stab myself with the gold rattle papa Elton probably put in my crib.
Celebrities and their accessories. Elton deciding to adopt a child at over 60 is an interesting one. Seems to be more about himself than the child. His partner has wanted kids for years and now since Madonna and all your other friends are adopting why not join the fun? No queen likes to be left out.
kid would be better off raised by wolves. If I woke up at about age 3 and realized my dad was that tweep, I'd stab myself with the gold rattle papa Elton probably put in my crib.
why not "adopt" a 14 year old child, Elton??? there are many who need homes and "grandfather figures" with hair plugs
i have a big problem with Elton's attempts to adopt Lev. How can he think of adopting Lev without Lev's brother? That's the most cruel thing I can imagine, to adopt one sibling and leave the others behind? Shame on you Elton, shame on you. I would rather Lev not get adopted at all if it means separation from his siblings.
I know several non-celebrities that have adopted from foriegn countries because it is easier and cheaper than adopting american babies. Celebs have the $$ but why wait in long lines for kids when there are so many worldwide that desperately need help. As for the age issue, I agree that younger, loving parents would be ideal. But on a global scale there are many kids who will live their whole lives in orphanages or die very young because they lack access to basic care. Life with Elton would be 100x better. Many children are raised by their grandparents. It's not ideal but it is better than nothing. Not everyone is ready to be a parent at 30. I have more respect for Elton adopting at 62 than if he inseminated a surrogate mother and paid her off.
With all the money that Sir Elton has, yes he could so called "buy a baby off ebay" or buy his way to the top of an adoption list somewhere. But he and his partner want to parent a child with HIV, a special need child who is in need of love and medical attention. Kudos to Sir Elton for wanting to help raise this beautiful little guy.
If they want a son that badly, they can adopt me! I don't care how old the mofo is - in fact, the older the better, because the sooner I'll inherit!!
Oh yeah, give the baby to a heterosexual couple where while the mom's out the house, the dad can go fuck him in the bathroom.
*roll eyes* Absolutely ridiculous not letting Elton John and his partner raise a child.
Re: Mad Dog – dumb bitch
Let them adopt! Baby Lev is sooo cute and deserves a good father. Elton John would be a great father and give him so much!
That really freakin' sucks. A good deal of my GAY friends are more affectionate and loving than my STRAIGHT friends. And frankly…I say have at it. And…as for the 'must not be 45 years older than the baby' bit…Uhm…there are people in their 60s popping out kids. So, why the eff not?! And, you can be single and adopt, but if you're not legally married, you can't? Lame. Best of luck to Sir Elton John and David. Lord knows they have the experience with all of Sir Elton John's god-children.
So they'd rather the boy and his brother be in an orphanage than with Elton and David?! Where is the justice in that!? Prayerfully, Lev and his brother will be going home with Elton and David soon and begin the journey of a lifetime!
No one has the right to comment on whether he'd be a good father or not; you can't say if you don't know him personally and I don't so I'm not gonna say anything about that. Ofcourse the boy couldn't get any luckier then getting adopted by Elton John but law is law and it treats everyone equally no matter if rich or famous. What kind of message about the democracy in the Ukraine would it give if they changed the law for him? Btw I don't really understand why people have to adopt babies from other countries. There are enough orphans in the UK and it would be easier for them I guess.. I believe that first of all you need to solve the problem in your own country and then focus on others.
Absolutely Disgusting! This kid is in an orphanage with no one - who gives a $%^S if Elton John in gay, straight, bisexual whatever! He wants to give this kid a life, a future. Time to change adoption laws all over the world!
That is SO not fair
Poor baby deserves the chance at having a great life and its rediculous that he is being denied this wonderful opportunity of having Elton John as his adoptive parent just because Elton is gay? Makes no sense to me at all.
This is what pisses me off so fucking bad. Here you have two capable people willing to adopt this beautiful little boy and show him love, attention, and more, and it isn't going to happen because Elton John is gay. Our country has people birthing babies and then treating them DISGUSTINGLY, or abusing them, and they are straight, and then a gay couple comes along WILLING to really care for a child and they're shunned because of who they are. People need to get their heads out of their asses.
What's very disturbing, and I insist, awfully disturbing in this story, is the understatement that Elton was ready to adopt a child without his brother, separating two souls forever. That makes me angry and makes me cry. Awful awful awful.
Aww poor Sir. Elton! That's so awful.
even though the bigoted ukraine would still not accept it, this is another case that illustrates why 'civil unions' are not equality.
marriage for all !!
He needs a little fur russian hat.. How cute!!!
Re: Mad Dog –
You don't know beans about equity or anything for the matter.
i think its great people want to adopt…butttt why cant they ever adopt from americaaa..
I really would hope they would take the offer to adopt Lev's brother too. I dunno, just seems unfair to take one and not the other.
The age thing does worry me though. It wouldn't be fair to the children to be orphaned again at an early age.
Oh god, let Elton and David have the kid, but they shouldn't separate him from his brother. AND…is it just me, or does anyone else notice that Lev and Elton look kinda the same? Match made in rocker heaven.
This absolutely breaks my heart
Good! Babies aren't accessories and if you are as old as Sir Elton John its really not fair to the child. Coming from someone with really old parents is does suck when you can't share things like your wedding, graduation, or birth of your children with your parents because of their age.
It is very sad that a child needs a home and there are silly laws like those that will keep that child or any child for that matter from being happy. Love is love, no matter gay or not. What's next? The child must be the same race as the couple trying to adopt? I think this is very wrong. Very.
Re: lraien –
Thanks Iraien, I didn't know that ! If the baby is HIV+, it changes everything because he might not find another family to adopt him, especially that he and his brother are gonna need expensive treatments all their lives. Elton John could afford them easily…
He's too fucking old to adopt a baby. He should donate to various orphanages instead.
Re: contrarianchick –
Eat shit you smelly twat!
Re: Mad Dog – ..and you shouldn't be allowed to write on the internet until you learn reading, spelling, grammar etc.