[JURIST] UK Prime Minister Tony Blair [official profile] announced Monday that rules under the Equality Act [text, PDF] protecting same-sex couples' rights to adopt children [JURIST report] without discrimination will apply without exception, denying special exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies opposed to same-sex unions and/or homosexuality. In a statement [text], Blair said:

[T]here is no place in our society for discrimination. That is why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple. And that is why there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering publicly-funded services from regulations which prevent discrimination. . . .

[T]he regulations that the Government will lay before Parliament . . . will include a transition period before these regulations come fully into force at the end of 2008 for existing adoption agencies. This will be coupled . . . with a statutory duty for any adoption agency which does not process applications from same sex couples to refer them to another agency. I have also asked for a regular independent assessment from adoption and child welfare experts on the impact of the sexual orientation regulations on adoption in order to maintain the existing body of expertise.