Gay Adoption Takes Hit in Recent Elections

Last week, here in the United States, we not only voted for our next president, but many states voted on several issues that affect gay families, including gay adoption.

Arkansas' Proposed Initiative Act No. 1, which was voted for by about 57 percent of voters last week, bans people from “cohabitating outside a valid marriage” from serving as foster parents or adopting children. Arkansas is not the first state with such a policy. Florida does not allow adoption from people who identify as gay, Utah prevents unmarried cohabitating couples from adopting and Mississippi bans same sex couples from adopting.

One editorial points out how this is really bad timing for such legislation due to the economy. The risk for more children being abused and neglected will probably increase, and now measures such as this takes away potential foster and adoptive homes.

This means that grandma living with her boyfriend will not be allowed to take in her grandchildren if they entered the foster care system. Aunt Bea cohabitating with her significant other of 15 years would be not allowed to be placed with her nieces and nephews entering the Arkansas foster care system.

I understand the heated passion that some feel for or against gay rights. However, I feel that if people are so strongly for a law that disallows family, gay or straight, because this law impact heterosexuals as well; from taking in family or helping foster children, then those people who voted for said law, need to consider stepping up and filling a need in an already overwhelmed system.

Arkansas had about one fourth of the foster homes they needed and now they just lost a bunch more. Who is going to take in these children?

SOURCES:
Antipathy Toward Obama Seen as Helping Arkansas Limit Adoption
Anti-Gay, Anti-Family