The Czech Republic allows same-sex partnerships since 2006

PRAGUE, June 28 (Reuters) - The Czech Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that individuals in same-sex partnerships may be allowed to adopt a child, overturning a ban that it called discriminatory.

A Prague court asked the country's highest court to rule on the ban after a man registered in a gay partnership filed a lawsuit when authorities could not list him as a suitable adoptive parent under the current partnership law.

The Constitutional Court struck down the ban, saying it was discriminatory because a gay person living outside a partnership would meet the requirements to adopt but would be denied that right once he entered a partnership.

"One group of people - registered partners - was groundlessly excluded from the possibility of adopting children," the Constitutional Court said in its decision.

The court's ruling will allow individuals in the same-sex partnership to adopt but not both people together as a couple.

The Czech Republic has allowed same-sex partnerships since 2006, becoming the first country in central Europe to allow the union. It does not allow same-sex marriage.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet)

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