Is the Next GOP Nominee for President Trying to Ban Gay Adoption in His Home State?

by Michael Jones · 2009-01-01 05:41:00 UTC
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JindalLouisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is being talked up like there's no tomorrow as the future of the Republican party. He's "the next big thing," according to Politico. The "next Ronald Reagan," according to Rush Limbaugh. Grover Norquist calls him "the best choice."

Is he also someone who is looking to ban gay adoption? It certainly looks like he might be stacking the deck to do so. Twenty-nine (29) spots on the State's Commission on Marriage and Family have been appointed by Gov. JIndal, and a number of them have gone to several high profile anti-gay individuals, including conservative leaders who have called for bans on gay adoption. The Louisiana-based Forum For Equality is worried that such high profile appointments could lead to a ban on adoption by LGBT parents, similar to the one that passed in Arkansas in November 2008.

Among the people appointed to the Commission by Jindal include Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana legislator who now runs the Family Research Council (FRC). Perkins and the FRC are on record as saying that gay adoption "undermines children's interests," and earlier this year, Perkins went after GOP Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain for being wishy-washy on the issue of gay adoption. According to Perkins, gay adoption weakens the family unit.

The evidence on adoption is strikingly clear - children of LGBT parents are just as well adjusted, normal, and healthy as children brought up by heterosexual parents. There's absolutely no scientific data showing otherwise, outside of studies conducted by conservative religious commentators who are not professionals in the social welfare field.

What are professionals saying?  Well, in a study released in September 2008, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute said that there is near "universal professional consensus" that LGBT persons are qualified parents and are critical resources for children awaiting adoption. Further, the Urban Institute said that by banning LGBT people from adopting children, states could be out anywhere from $100,000 to $27 million in support for child welfare.

So if Gov. Jindal does move toward pushing for a ban on gay adoption, he will be doing something that's not only detrimental to the state's finances, it's also detrimental for children.  If Gov. Jindal is really looking to make a name for himself before the 2012 election, this isn't the way to do it.

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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