Arkansas to Vote on Gay Adoptions

A ballot proposal aimed at banning gays and lesbians from being foster or adoptive parents has been accepted for this November’s election. The ballot measure would prohibit unmarried couples from becoming foster parents or adopting children.  Currently it is illegal for same-sex couples to marry, and Arkansas refuses to recognize those marriages conducted in other states. Charlie Daniels, the Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, certified the proposal for the ballot by claiming to have verified the Arkansas Family Council Action Committee had submitted 85,389 valid signatures of registered voters. The President of teh committee, Jerry Cox said: “Arkansas needs to affirm the importance of married mothers and fathers. We need to publicly affirm the gold standard of rearing children whenever we can.” Arkansas Families First is campaigning against the measure and has said it plans to sue to keep it off the ballot.