Australia’s most populous State of New South Wales has decided in favor of adoption by same-sex couples bringing them on par with their heterosexual counterparts, reports said on Thursday. The State Parliament’s Lower House voted narrowly 46-44 to drop a few clauses in the Adoption Bill which discriminated against gays and lesbians. Members were allowed to vote based on their conscience. With the Bill clearing the hurdle, New South Wales has become Australia’s third State after Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory to allow gay adoption.

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