Arkansas Judge strikes down adoption ban (Passed in 2008)

[FreeState]

Popping in with some good news:)

http://arkansasnews.com/2010/04/16/judge-strikes-down-adoption-ban/

LITTLE ROCK — A circuit judge today stuck down Arkansas’ ban against unmarried couples adopting or foster-parenting children.

Act 1, passed by voters in 2008, unconstitutionally burdens non-marital relationships and acts of sexual intimacy between adults by forcing them to choose between becoming a parent and having any meaningful type of intimate relationship outside of marriage, Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled in a lawsuit challenging the law.

“It infringes upon the fundamental right to privacy guaranteed to all citizens of Arkansas,” the judge ruled in the lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

The state had argued that children are better off raised in traditional family settings, with married parents, and that the law should be upheld because it protects children from abuse and neglect.

[beyurslf]

1. It nevers ceases to amaze me that people think children are better with no

family than they would be with a family that is different than the norm. A child in foster care has already come from a broken home. What they need is a loving supportive home.

[terrya]

2. This is a big deal

A ruling striking down a horrible piece of legislation based on bigotry. The judge did the absolutely right thing.

Thanks for posting this. :-)

[FreeState]

3. I think Utah and Florida are now the only states with a law based on the same rational

They passed a law making it so only married people can adopt - I don't know what Utah's state constitution would say about it like AK's did - but hopefully the same can be done there.

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayparentingadoption/a/gaycoupleadopt.htm


Florida Prohibits single and joint gay adoption.
Missouri Single GLBT and joint adoption unclear. Second-parent adoption unclear.
Nebraska Single GLBT adoption unclear. Does not clearly prohibit joint gay adoption. Prohibits second-parent adoption.
Utah Permits single GLBT adoption. Joint adoption prohibited. Second-parent adoption unclear.

the above link is wrong for Utah:

"Utah and Florida are among the states that historically imposed more stringent restrictions of LGBT adoption. Utah prohibits adoption by "a person who is cohabiting in a relationship that is not a legally valid and binding marriage,"<34> making it legal for single people to adopt, regardless of sexual orientation, so long as they are not co-habitating in non-marital relationships." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_adoption


(all the rest allow adoption by gay people in some regard, single or couples)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Well well well, look who came visit the asylum.

:hi:

[terrya]

6. Thanks....

I'm not sure this is a good idea. :-)

:hi:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

4. Wonderful news!!!!

Thank you, Judge Chris Piazza!