Gay man adopts his partner as a way to get around Pennsylvania's laws

[The Straight Story]

In order to save on tax penalties, a local gay man has adopted his partner.

CBS 21 spoke to the couple and their attorney.

Perhaps a landmark case in Central PA as a gay man, and because his father is still living, he has adopted his older partner as his son.

John did not want his face shown.

While this seems very unusual, it's done for legal protection when one of them passes away.

“The more and more we read about same sex marriage being fought, not being approved, we were not hopeful it would happen in our lifetimes,” explained John.

http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Gay-man-adopts-his-partner-as-a-way-to-get-around/VOtz1P2PHEqxp7lkDBqIMg.cspx

[Swede Atlanta]

1. Interesting.....

Many states have laws prohibiting this kind of adoption. They usually use an age difference limitation to restrict this. But if this works in PA so much the better. I'm sure the Reich-wing PA legislature will be on that toute suite.

[Travis_0004]

2. I'm a bit suprised you can legally adapt somebody who is an adult.

Also, I would think once gay marrige passes, they will not be able to marry, since they are now father and son.

[dsc]

4. they are both rather old so are unlikely to be around by the time marriage is an option

[Tx4obama]

5. That's what I was thinkiing too. Maybe they can have the adoption invalidated.

[HeiressofBickworth]

3. Back in the 1970's, I worked for an attorney who was gay

He had a client who was gay and owned one of the area's most expensive and exclusive restaurants -- I ate there only once and had to make a reservation three months in advance. They called a few days before the reservation to confirm and to get our order. Anyway, the owner had a committed relationship with another man. One was older than the other. He was diagnosed with cancer and wasn't expected to survive. In WA, adult adoptions are permitted. Consent is require of the adopting party and the adoptee, but no one else. As part of his estate planning, we handled the adoption. The older guy did die, the younger one inherited, the restaurant lasted for a couple of years and then the state put a highway interchange through the property. I'm surprised this wasn't done more often although I suspect in this case it was the fact that the older guy was the one who owned the restaurant.