Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On Gay Adoptions

[William769]

WASHINGTON -- Arkansas' high court struck has struck down the state's law barring same-sex couples from adopting on Thursday. In an opinion published without dissent, the court argued that the law violated individuals' right to privacy. Supporters of the law are expected to fight the ruling.

Arkansas voters approved Act 1 as a ballot measure in 2008. It prohibits unmarried couples who live together from adopting children, in effect shutting out gay and lesbian couples, who are not allowed to marry in the state.

"Act 1 directly and substantially burdens the privacy rights of 'opposite-sex and same-sex individuals' who engage in private, consensual sexual conduct in the bedroom by foreclosing their eligibility to foster or adopt children, should they choose to cohabit with their sexual partner," concluded the court in the ruling embedded below. "The pressure on such couples to live apart, should they wish to foster or adopt children, is clearly significant."

It also argued that Sheila Cole, one of the plaintiffs in the case, was faced with a "pernicious choice" when she tried to adopt her granddaughter, who was placed in foster care because Cole was unable to adopt her. (The child was eventually placed in Cole's home.)


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/arkansas-supreme-court-ban-gay-adoption_n_846174.html

NOW THIS IS HUGE NEWS FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

[pinto]

1. "pernicious choice" - Great choice of words in the ruling.

:thumbsup:

[Brickbat]

2. Excellent.

:thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

3. Recommend!!! n/t

[Hestia]

4. We did good, didn't we? I'm just curious, reading the comments section

of the Arkansas Times article (the more liberal paper) http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/04/07/supreme-court-strikes-down-adoption-law and this site kept popping up - http://knowthyneighbor.org/arkansas ? Have ya'll seen this? Very interesting information...just play nice, okay?

[FreeState]

5. "Supporters of the law are expected to fight the ruling"

How? It was the state Supreme court - that's the end of the line isn't it.