Florida Rules Against Gay Adoption Ban
November 25, 2008 by James Hipps · Leave a Comment
A Miami Dade Circuit judge has ruled that a gay man and his partner should be able to adopt the two foster children they have been raising for four years.
Circuit Judge Cindy S. Lederman stated, “These children are thriving. These words we don’t often hear within these walls. That’s uncontroverted.”
The judge added, “They’re a good family. They’re a family in every way except in the eyes of the law. These children have a right to permanancy. The only real permanancy is adoption in the home where they are thriving.” Lederman continued by saying, “There is no rational basis to preclude homosexuals from adopting.”
In 2004, the state encouraged Gill and his male partner to provide a foster home for two boys. Gill wants to become their adopted father.
“Today I’ve cried my first tears of joy in my life,” said Gill, 47, a flight attendant who lives in North Miami. “We are elated.” Gill added: “I wasn’t here to make history. I was here to do the best thing for a 4- and an 8-year-old.”
A lawyer from the Attorney General’s Office, who is representing the state Department of Children and Families, said the case would be appealed.
Some states, such as Mississippi and Utah, prevent gays from adopting by using laws that prohibit unmarried couples from adopting. But Florida expressly targeted gays with its 1977 law, enacted during Miss America runner-up Anita Bryant’s anti-homosexual crusade.
Florida Statute 63.042 states: “No person eligible to adopt under this statute may adopt if that person is a homosexual.” They can be state-appointed foster parents. They can be named permanent guardians. But adoption is not allowed.
Gill’s attorney, Robert Rosenwald of the ACLU, said an appeals court and the possibly the Florida Supreme Court would be asked to address the ban on gay adoption.
The state made has fought hard to keep adoption illegal by gay parents. They used every repulsive and discredited tactic they could to justify a blanket ban on adoption by gay people and no one else. Gay people, Florida says, are “more prone to alcohol and drug abuse, are more likely to be depressed and suicidal, and are more likely to have unstable relationships. We, the state insists, are more likely to engage in domestic violence, and our children are more likely to be gay and to be psychologically damaged by abuse from people who are homophobic.”
Makes me wonder who the homophobic ones really are?
Experts Clash on Gays’ Bids to Adopt Children
November 17, 2008 by Gay Agenda News Team · Leave a Comment
From Out Gay Life:
During 15 years as a child-welfare judge, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman has been a lawyer, a social worker and even a bit of a cheerleader, encouraging troubled parents to make better choices.
When Lederman rules later this month on a gay foster father’s petition to adopt the two small boys he has raised since 2004, she will have to wear yet another hat: social scientist.
In a one-week trial peppered with words like ”null hypothesis,” ”central limit theorem” and ”Pearson correlation,” a half-dozen experts in psychology, epidemiology, sociology and family studies presented starkly different views on whether gay men and women can be as good at parenting as straight people. The trial, which ran Oct. 1-6, was closed to the public, but The Miami Herald has obtained a transcript of the testimony.
Florida law bans gays from adopting. Valerie J. Martin, a Florida assistant attorney general who defended the statute, said same-sex couples are at far greater risk of many social ills, and “putting children who are already at risk into such a household would increase the stressors that these children already experience as a result of their placement in foster care.”
Election Day Setbacks to Gays and Lesbians
November 5, 2008 by Gay Agenda News Team · Leave a Comment
November 4, 2008 marked a transformational day in American history. With the election of the first African-American as president of the United States, the world, all of a sudden, became closer and a bit more unified. People were rejoicing in five continents. Although supporters of John McCain and Sarah Palin understandably may not have felt euphoric when the networks declared Barack Obama president at 11:00 p.m. EDT, I sure did.
But my elation was doused not that long afterwards, as three gay marriage bans and one anti-gay adoption initiative all apparently succeeded, reminding me that the country still has not taken that next big step.
Read more at stevecharing.blogspot.com.
Where the Candidates Stand on GLBT Rights
November 3, 2008 by James Hipps · Leave a Comment
Employment Non-Discrimination:
-Obama: Supports ending employment discrimination against the entire GLBT community.
-McCain: Cast a deciding vote against ENDA.
On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
-Obama: opposes the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
-McCain: believes that GLBT people should not be allowed to serve openly, and supports “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He said, “My view is that in the case of the military, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was appropriate. And I also believe that gays should not be in the military.”
On Relationship Recognition:
-Obama: Supports the repeal of DOMA; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA); supports civil unions and domestic partnerships; supports family benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples
-McCain: Voted for and supports DOMA, which denies all couples protections; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), but campaigned for a state amendment that would have also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships; does not support family benefits for partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples
Hate Crimes:
-Obama: Supports inclusive legislation to protect the entire GLBT community against bias-motivated violence
-McCain: Voted against hate crimes legislation three times
HIV/AIDS:
-Obama: Supports Ryan White CARE Act and access for early treatment of HIV under Medicaid (ETHA)
Supports comprehensive sex education aimed at preventing disease
-McCain: Has never co-sponsored Ryan White or ETHA, and voted for a Jesse Helms strategy to remove funding aimed at protecting the community from HIV/AIDS; supports abstinence-only education that leaves out GLBT people and is ineffective in combating the spread of HIV
Adoption:
-Obama: Opposes bans on adoption by same-sex couples
-McCain: Opposes adoption by same-sex couples
Source: HRC
Where Does Your State Stand on Gay Adoption?
October 30, 2008 by James Hipps · Leave a Comment
Here it is, an individual breakdown of all 50 states and where they stand on gay adoption.
Alabama allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Alaska allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Arizona allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Arkansas Legislation is not clear whether single gays or couples can adopt, but they currently have an initiative on November’s ballot to make it illegal for anyone not married to adopt, and of course, gay marriage is far from legal in this state.
California allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Colorado allows same-sex couple adoption. Also allows grandparents and other individuals helping raise the child to adopt.
Connecticut allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Delaware allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
District of Columbia allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Florida prohibits GLBT adoption.
Georgia allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Hawaii allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Idaho allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Illinois allows single GLBT and couples adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Indiana allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Iowa allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Kansas allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Kentucky allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Louisiana allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Maine allows single GLBT adoption. On August 30, 2007 the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously in their favor on grounds that prohibiting the adoption would be counter to Maine’s Adoption Act.
Maryland allows single GLBT adoption. Joint gay adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Massachusetts allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Michigan allows single GLBT adoption. Prohibits joint adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Minnesota allows single GLBT adoption. Joint gay adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Mississippi allows single GLBT adoption. Prohibits joint adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Missouri stands unclear on all GLBT adoption.
Montana allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Nebraska stands unclear on GLBT adoption and prohibits second-parent adoption.
Nevada allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
New Hampshire allows single GLBT adoption. Prohibits joint adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
New Jersey Permits single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
New Mexico allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
New York allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
North Carolina allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption unclear.
North Dakota stands unclear on GLBT and second-parent adoption.
Ohio allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption not allowed.
Oklahoma allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Oregon allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Pennsylvania allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Rhode Island allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
South Carolina allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption unclear.
South Dakota allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Tennessee allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Texas allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption allowed in some areas.
Utah allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption prohibited. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Vermont allows single GLBT and joint adoption. Second-parent adoption allowed.
Virginia allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Washington allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption in some areas.
West Virginia allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Wisconsin allows single GLBT adoption. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Second-parent adoption prohibited.
Wyoming allows single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption unclear.
