Judge overturns Florida ban on adoption by gays

[2QT2BSTR8]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- A Florida circuit judge Tuesday struck down a 31-year-old state law that prevents gays and lesbians from adopting children, allowing a North Miami man to adopt two half-brothers he and his partner have raised as foster children since 2004.

"There is no question, the blanket exclusion of gay applicants defeats Florida's goal of providing dependent children a permanent family through adoption," Judge Cindy S. Lederman wrote in her 53-page ruling.

"The best interests of children are not preserved by prohibiting homosexual adoption."

The state attorney general's office has appealed the decision.

She said there is no moral or scientific reason for banning gays and lesbians from adopting, despite the state's arguments otherwise. The state argued that gays and lesbians have higher odds of suffering from depression, affective and anxiety disorders and substance abuse, and that their households are more unstable.

Lederman said the ban violated children's right to permanency provided under the Florida statute and under the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. Whether the ban violated the state's equal protection clause by singling out gays and lesbians should be considered, she said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/25/florida.gay.adoption/index.html

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Enough said! This momementum from the fight on Prop 8 has to keep going! CA we are still with you! We have not given up the fight!

[proud patriot]

1. good news for this California

[auntsue]

2. Litle by little

people will begin to see that people are people -
so many kids languish in foster care, lacking the emotional connection of a parent. Yes ideally kids shold live with the folks that "birthed" them - but things happen and where ever there is a stable adult or pair of adults willing to love and care for them - it should be not just allowed, but celebrated ! !