TENNESSEE: May decide NO parent is better than GAY parent

[Bluebear]

Dr. Christopher Harris reads to his adopted daughter, Maria, 2, at home in Nashville. Harris, a pediatrician, turned to a private adoption center after the state turned him down.


Tennessee could join two other states that choose no parent over a gay parent. Proposals by two Middle Tennessee lawmakers would forbid gays and lesbians from adopting or becoming foster parents to the thousands of children in state custody awaiting a family.

They say children need to be in traditional homes with a mother and father, the only recognized partnership in Tennessee. Gay parents could be confusing, they say. There were 9,853 children in state custody as of Jan. 31. Of those, 6,477 are in foster homes, said K. Danielle Edwards, spokeswoman for the Department of Children's Services. Last year, 1,115 children in state custody were adopted.

"I do believe this policy should be established, but I don't feel wholly good about it,'' said Jackson, a Democrat from Dickson.
"Nobody wants to deprive another citizen of the opportunity to have children and have the experience of being parents. But I'm not looking at this issue from the perspective of the parents; we have to consider the interest of the child, also," he said.

"We need to put children in a stable, wholesome home environment with traditional values that reflects the values of Tennessee," Jackson said.

http://tennessean.com/local/archives/05/01/65897253.shtml?Element_ID=65897253

[phusion]

1. With respect to Mike Malloy...

Have I mentioned tonight how much I HATE these people?

:eyes:

[Ready4Change]

2. Apparently the values of Tennessee are homophobic.

.

[Bluebear]

4. How can this country remain as one?

The chasm is growing wider and wider.

[ultraist]

6. It is! Homophobia is on the rise! Racism is on the rise!

It's like going back to the fifties. The divide widens.

[Bluebear]

8. Related thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1612594

[sonicx]

9. That picture of the bushbot looking up always makes me sick...

[Dude_CalmDown]

13. I'd never hit a woman but I'd have another woman to hit her for me. n/t

*

[Bluebear]

17. Dude, calm down.

I agree with you but just felt like saying your name lol.

[Downtown Hound]

3. Disgusting

[gottaB]

5. sad

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Typical

Let's keep the children in group homes where they have very little, if any, one-on-one attention. Make sure those children grow up thinking no one loves them, rather than expose them to loving people who have "sinful" lifestyles...unlike the scores of alcoholics, drug-abusers, child molesters, abusers, and wife-beaters that so many children grow up with as "good" role models!!

[98geoduck]

10. Maybe they'll reconsider, once they realize the president has a gay friend

in the press.

[Bluebear]

11. Who the hell is this Democrat sponsoring this shit?

"I don't feel good about it but we have to watch Tennessee values" my fanny. Some Dem!

[98geoduck]

12. I, personally feel the party needs to draw some lines. Dixiecrats can

form their own party, just like the Greens.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yewberry]

15. Please, let me tell you something.

Background: I am a thirtysomething straight married woman. Fiscal conservative, tree-hugging vegetarian social progressive. (Sorry, I'm originally from NH. It's all about the small government and being flat-out contrarian.)

Tricky bit: Mom's a lesbian. Funny, so's her partner of 23 years. And (ATTN DUMBASS FUNDIES...) all 4 kids are well-adjusted married breeders.

It's SO frustrating to keep hearing ridiculous arguments about same-sex parents; it's always presented as somehow a "new problem" that exists as a result of a lapse in our nation'a moral fabric. Pfeh. We've always been here.

This TN proposal does nothing but cheat needy children of good homes. Please, consider this:

*Same-sex couples DO NOT have unplanned children. They think and plan, discuss and agonize over this decision. WE are the most wanted children that exist.

*Children of same-sex households are very well educated about notions of acceptance. I cannot begin to tell you about how many people judged me based upon my family dynamic, tried to "save" me, pitied me, yadda yadda yadda. We live with judgement, and learn what it is be unwelcome by people who see us as "Other." We learn empathy.

*Same-sex parents MUST go above-and-beyond to help their children realize their place in the world. I don't think my mom would ever wish upon me the feelings and choices she faced when she realized that she was a lesbian.

Keeping kids from having a stable home based on parents' sexuality seems to me to be a horrible crime.

[Bluebear]

16. But you are from New Hampshire!

:toast:

Thank you for your very personal testimony.

[CatBoreal]

18. Yeah right....

...how often do you hear of abuse in group homes (particularily in religious group homes) as opposed to gay households???

I wonder how many of these lawmakers have spent any time with kids who've been raised in foster care or by gay parents and know what they'd prefer. Do they know anyone in that situation?

No, it might mean that they actully have to get down with the unwashed masses and they couldn't abide that.

Sick! Sick! Sick!