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Adoption and Foster Care Remain National Hot-Button Issues

By Kevin Adler
May 31, 2005

Emboldened by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in January not to hear a case about the constitutionality of Florida's ban on adoptions by homosexuals, activists in several states are pushing bills to restrict the ability of homosexuals and/or same-sex couples to be adoptive or foster parents. Bills have been introduced in Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia in the last few months (see below for a description of legislation in each state).

However, LGBT advocates point out that the legislative proposals are meeting significant opposition, and they suggest that the bills might be little more than a “last gasp” by opponents. “We have seen more media attention to the issue recently, but these types of bills have been introduced regularly for a number of years,” said Courtney Joslin, senior staff attorney, National Center for Lesbian Rights. “The important thing to remember is that none of the recent bills have passed. The reason they haven't passed is because people realize they aren't good for kids.”

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