In
Virginia, lawmakers are attempting to pass legislation which would allow state
adoption agencies to discriminate against an individual’s sexual orientation or
gender identity. The proposed law would allow placement agencies to reject
a potential parent or child if the person’s “characteristics” conflict with
their religious or moral beliefs.
Shin Inouye, a spokesperson for the Obama Administration,
says that President
Obama believes adoption shouldn’t be “based on discriminatory and irrelevant
factors” like sexual orientation and gender identity. “He has long believed
that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals based on
their interest in offering a loving home…adoptive families come in many forms,”
said Inouye.
A federal bill would nullify such legislation in VA if it
were passed into law, and other such laws that exist in states like Utah,
Arizona and Nebraska. The Every Child Deserves a
Family Act (H.R. 1681/S. 1770) would open up more homes for foster youth by
restricting federal funding for states employing discriminatory practices in
adoption and foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender
identity, or marital status or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the
foster youth involved.. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) in
the House and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the Senate, is currently
pending in Congress. When asked if President Obama would support ECDF in order
to counter discriminatory adoption and foster care policies, Inouye provided a
positive and hopeful reply: “While we have not reviewed Congressman Stark’s
legislation, we share [ECDF’s] goals to expand adoption rights and move the
dialogue forward on this issue.”
1 comment:
I think sexuality should never determine one's capability of being a parent. In private foster care agencies bristol, it's enough that we feel the sincerity of the would-be parent and with good records to back up his/her intentions.
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