The real costs of Florida’s adoption ban: state loses money, children denied permanent homes with loving parents

(HRC Backstory, Chris Johnson, 3/31/09)

By Ellen Kahn, director of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Family Project:

Ever since Anita Bryant cast her spell of fear and hate over Floridians in the mid-70’s, loving, qualified “homosexuals” in that state have been banned from adopting children. This, supposedly, was done in the best interests of children.

Fast forward 30 years. It’s now widely known that one’s sexual orientation is not a determinant for their ability to provide the support, love, guidance and security every child needs and deserves. We also know that thousands of LGBT adults are interested in learning more about adoption, and with thousands of Florida’s children–and over 100,000 nationwide–waiting for a permanent family, the time has come to strip away that law and open the door to more great families for more great kids. In a new report (PDF) released this month by UCLA’s William Institute, researchers Naomi Goldberg and Lee Badgett argue that if fostering rates in Florida rise to the national level as a result of the ban being lifted, they estimate that 219 children would be adopted, saving the state approximately $3.4 million in the first year alone.

Let’s all hope that this is the year we finally see Florida move into the 21st century by passing legislation, introduced by Senator Nan Rich, that will finally remove the discriminatory and insulting law that prevents “homosexuals” from adopting chidren. When the Miami Herald came out against the adoption ban on its editorial page a few weeks ago, it correctly noted:

The ban hurts Florida’s foster children most. Florida is the only state with a complete ban on gay and lesbian adoptions of foster children. But the state thinks it’s fine for them to be foster parents. This hypocritical policy means the state considers a gay couple’s home perfectly fit for foster kids but not good enough for giving that child a permanent, stable, loving life.

Jacksonville School Refuses Gay-Straight Club, Sued By Students

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — “We just want the club so that straight and gay kids can get together to talk about harassment and discrimination against gay kids in an open environment. The school is discriminating against us and that’s exactly the kind of thing we want to prevent,” she said.

READ THE STORY

Fighting Amendment 2 in Florida

California is getting a lot of press around the Prop 8 vote that will happen on Nov. 4th, but its not only Californians that will be voting on civil rights. Florida voters will be going to the polls on Nov. 4 to vote on an amendment to the Florida Constitution which will limit the recognition of same sex relationships. The proposed amendment, known as Amendment 2, not only seeks to define marriage as between one man and one woman, but will also prohibits the recognition of any union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent to marriage.

The text of the amendment reads:

“Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

As there is already a DOMA in Flordia there is much concern around the language of the amendment itself. The language, particularly the “substantial equivalent” to marriage lines, seems to mean that the amendment will not only affect same-sex couples, but any couple that choose to create a domestic partnership agreement. The Say No on 2 campaign has produced a new ad to combat misinformation from the Yes on 2 groups and to bring more attention to the expansive impact of this amendment.

Learn More about Say No on Amendment 2