Florida Ban on Gay Adoption Ruled Unconstitutional

by Michael Jones · 2008-11-25 14:54:00 UTC
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adoptionWhat a great Thanksgiving surprise.  Earlier this month, we blogged about a case in Florida challenging the state's ban on adoption by gay and lesbian parents.  The case featured crackpot psychologists on behalf of the state, attempting to tell the Miami-Dade court that gay parents have a higher likelihood of making their children depressed.  These same crackpots also supported a ban on Native American adoption, too.

Well, we've got one word for these experts:  UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

That's what a Florida judge ruled today regarding Florida's law banning gay adoption. From Judge Cindy Lederman's ruling:

The challenged statute, in precluding otherwise qualified homosexuals from adopting available children, does not promote the interests of children and, in effect, causes harm to the children it is meant to protect...

There is no question the blanket exclusion of gay applicants defeats Florida's goal of providing [foster] children a permanent family through adoption.

Amen, sister.  I mean, Amen, your Honor.  You've hit the nail on the head:  Banning gay adoption causes harm to children.  It's as simple as that.

The case is being appealed by the Florida Department of Children & Families, but still.  This ruling today is the first step in overturning Florida's archaic and counter-productive adoption law.  Arkansas, maybe you'll be next.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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