Posted on 03/08/2006 2:57:37 PM PST by longtermmemmory
March 1, 2006
Bill to allow gay foster parents to adopt doesn’t have the votes By Jan Pudlow Senior Editor A proposal to allow gay foster parents to adopt the children they care for received its first public hearing since Florida’s anti-gay parenting law was first enacted in 1977.
It was standing-room only at the Senate Children & Families Committee on February 14, where 19 people — including gay and lesbian parents, foster parents, foster children, national children’s advocates, sociologists, and researchers — testified why the bill was in the best interests of children.
But before there was a vote on SB 172, Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, asked that her bill be temporarily passed because she knew she didn’t have the votes.
“I really believe it is time to change this discriminatory statute. Unfortunately, and this pains me, I do not have the votes to pass this bill at this time,” Rich said. “But I believe that we have begun an important dialog. We have heard people share their life experiences and how this discriminatory law impacts not only them but children in our communities.”
After thanking those who testified for opening up their “hearts and lives,” Rich said: “You know, in 1977, the Florida Legislature passed the law that we are looking at today, prohibiting all gay people from adopting children. At that time, and probably still, it is the most sweeping anti-gay parenting law in the country. I believe the law was born out of bigotry and prejudice. It is devoid of any basis in social science and contradicts public policy on child welfare. It denies children and adults constitutional rights. And it jeopardizes the best interests of children.
“. . . I have learned in this process that all good things take time. We will continue to educate people and hear from people like you. . . .Those of us who support this bill are going to need your help, to continue to educate people about why we need to change the law in the state of Florida. We need to do what’s right for the children of our state. The bill’s time will come. But unfortunately, it is not going to come today.”
SB 172, sponsored by Rich with co-introducers Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, and Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Bay Harbor Island, would have allowed homosexual foster parents to adopt the children they already care for if a judge finds by clear and convincing evidence it would be in the best interests of the child. (A similar companion bill, HB 123, was filed by Rep. Sheri McInvale, R-Orlando; and co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-Palm Beach; Rep. Faye Culp, R-Tampa; Rep. Ken Gottlieb, D-Miramar; Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs; Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Dania Beach; Rep. Irving Slosberg, D-Boca Raton; and Rep. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, but has not yet been heard in the House.)
Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, offered a more restrictive amendment that would require the child live with the foster parents for two years before being considered for adoption by the court, and would also require recommendations from the Department of Children and Families district administrator.
“However, I understand that Sen. Rich would prefer that I not do this amendment,” Lynn said. “So Mr. Chairman, in respect to Sen. Rich, I will withdraw it.”
Sen. Skip Campbell, D-Tamarac, the committee’s chair, said gay foster parent adoption is an issue that must be brought up and he said Sen. President Tom Lee gave him permission to debate the issue.
“It’s not like you can put your head in the sand and say there’s not many, many good foster parents that are gay that are not raising their children in a loving, happy, spiritual relationship,” Campbell said. “. . . I personally would love to have the full Senate and the full House take this up.”
[Updated: 02-24-2006 ]
For lack of a better expression, this is a 100% back door effort to legalize homosexual adoption.
The homosexual sex advocates have failed and all court levels REPEATEDLY to have this ban overturned.
It is good when demorats and RINOs fail on social issues.
Democrats - the party of perverts.
ping
The foster parents system is so in need of rethinking, but this would just make it worse, research shows.
Don't worry, the Florida Supreme Court will determine what the people really want.
I thought that was the purpose of the court system?? /sarc
The florida Supreme Court has upheld the ban on homosexuals adopting children TWICE.
The homosexuals can not get any traction on having access to children via adoption in FL.
ping
Florida holds firm to reality on this issue. The rest of the country?
Bill to allow gay foster parents to adopt doesn’t have the votes
Newt caught heck for suggesting a return to orphanages, but it beats handing kids over to thr wrong people.
Notice there's been little droplets of good news lately? Cheering. Maybe people are starting to wake up and get some intestinal fortitude~!!!!
I watched Jeb's State of the State Address today on C-span. Excellent!
He is really comfortable in his job. It was bittersweet when he mentioned that this was his final SotS Address.
Regards,
LH
http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/02/10/Tampabay/Regret_plagues_King_a.shtml
Underscoring his moderate views on social issues, King acknowledged Monday he disagrees with a Florida law that bars gay couples from adopting kids. The state allows homosexuals to serve as legal guardians and foster parents, but a law recently upheld by a federal appeals court does not allow them to adopt.
"They're doing everything else but adopting, and in many cases ... it is the adoptable child that really isn't being adopted by anyone else," King said in response to a question. "Empirical evidence is that gays that have been involved in foster parenting have better performance factors than a lot of the "normal' foster parents."
Politician speak for "The ignorant, drooling knuckle dragging morons who disagree with me will eventually see things my way".
No, it's NOT an important dialog. Gay adoption is a bad, bad idea for the emotional health of children and we owe it to future generations not to experiment with their lives to meet a political agenda of a sub-group of the population that already has issues of their own.
Yes, I'm saying that the DSM V is just wrong, and the psychiatrists have abandoned gays to whatever personal demons drove them to homosexuality. Our society has let down a lot of people in the pursuit of this leftist agenda.
This is no different than Roman homos owning catamites (boys for sexual abuse). It is also politically motivated to normalize homo behavior. Unfortunately, the kids are merely pawns in a game of queer chess.
A politicians language NOT spoken so the affected parties are NOT left out of the conversation that was NOT held against the wish's of the majority so as NOT to confuse one issue with another and NOT just bolster an alignment with that voting block.
The incidence of violent crime and doestic abuse is through the roof and many times what it is in straight homes. This aspect of the gay lifestyle has been iognored by the liberals.
Have you noticed that is most all we hear about these days? Its either them or muslims blowing crap up. They have a lot in common, don't you think?
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