Two fathers adopt newborn in rare same-sex adoption in Finland

A single phone call changed the lives of Jere Posti and Oskari Nivala, who became fathers this spring after adopting a baby in a rare same-sex adoption in Finland, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The Helsinki couple received the call in early 2026 and held their child for the first time just hours later. “It felt surreal—was this really happening? Would it last?” Posti recalled. “But once we brought the baby home, it hit us: we’re a family now.”

Same-sex adoption became legal in Finland in 2017, yet families with two fathers remain uncommon. According to Statistics Finland, fewer than 30 such families existed in 2024. Posti and Nivala, who married in 2023, are part of the first generation of gay men in Finland able to legally adopt.

The adoption followed 18 months of mandatory counseling and a year-long wait. Both men had discussed their plans with employers, and when the call came, their workplaces responded with immediate support. “My supervisor said, ‘Enjoy this moment—we’ll talk about work later,’” Posti said.

The couple now share parental leave, alternating between work and childcare. Their days revolve around feedings, naps, and the small routines of new parenthood. “We’ve adjusted faster than we thought,” Nivala said. “It’s strangely normal—just life with a baby.”

Their openness about the process stems from a desire to show other same-sex couples that parenthood is possible. “Many still assume it’s nearly impossible for gay men to have families,” Nivala said. “We want to change that.”

Adoption social workers report growing interest from male couples in recent years, though international adoptions remain restricted in some countries that do not recognize same-sex parents. Domestically, the evaluation process for gay and straight couples is identical.