Every Child Deserves a Family

This week U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) introduced The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827) an adoption anti-discrimination bill.

This legislation would restrict federal funds given to states that discriminate based on the marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity of the individuals wanting to adopt or provide foster care to the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for a family. Rep. Stark: "We got 25,000 kids a year maturing out of the welfare system without permanent foster care or adoptive care, and the prospects of those children having a successful adult life are diminished greatly," he said. "These are kids who end up in the criminal justice system, or end up homeless."

There are states (Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska & Utah) that currently prohibit the adoption and/or foster placement of children based solely on whether or not the applicants are married or gay. Arkansas prohibits all unmarried couples from adopting. And Florida strictly prohibits gay couples from adopting. With the enactment of this bill, those states would lose all federal funding, private agencies included, if they continue to discriminate based on their current policy.

I say Hooray! My family is authentic. It's whole. If state and privately-run agencies want to discredit and disqualify individuals that don't fit into their definition of what is "family", then they won't receive the federal money that keeps them in business. Period.

So how long do you think it will take before these agencies comply and better-define Family?

Comments

[Half of a Duo, Raising a Duo]

Christine how amazing that you were above me on SQ for saturday SITS!!!

I wrote a poem about the boys and I loved the poem you wrote.

Have a great day honey!!!!!

[Surge]

Good. The average man/wife couple can raise children and yell in front of them their whole lives, causing some damage and I can guarantee there are some children who were raised by a woman/woman who did just as well or better than a man/woman couple. As long as there is love and a healthy enviorment it doesn't matter what genders the couple is.

[Christine]

You are right Surge. It still boggles my mind sometimes why others can't understand that. I know my perspective is different from most others, since I was raised by gay couples, but I can say without a doubt that I was truly loved and was given every opportunity my peers were given. I was raised with an open mind and taught that if people were to be judged, it should be based on their character and actions. Period.

[Vivienne]

I welcome this regarding the end of the discrimination because of the gender, but I'm not exactly sure about the married part. When a couple is married, no matter which combination LOL, then the probability of the relationship breaking apart is less than without this bondage I guess. That's the point behind it, and it's important. On the other hand, nowadays being married is no guarantee anymore as well. Anyway, I'm interested how this story goes on :)

[a thorn among roses]

i came by from SITS today...and then i saw this post...good stuff! i am doing adoption awareness this whole month on my bloggy, so stop by there sometime. anyway, nice to meet you.