News
2005-09-16
Kansas won't
consider ban on adoption by gays
The chairwoman of
a legislative study committee in Kansas said she has no
plans to bring up a proposed ban on adoptions by gay people.
The chairwoman of
a legislative study committee in Kansas said she has no
plans to bring up a proposed ban on adoptions by gay people.
The proposal was expected to come up Wednesday when
the legislature's joint committee on children's issues
met in Topeka to discuss adoption issues. But Rep.
Willa DeCastro, a Wichita Republican, had other plans. "It
will not be coming out of this committee," the
chairwoman said.
Republican representative Steve Huebert of
Valley Center asked legislative leaders in July to put
adoption criteria on a list of topics to be studied
before the legislature convenes January 9. He believes
adoption should be limited to homes with a mother and
father. His proposal has received criticism from gay
and lesbian advocacy groups, and many lawmakers said
they were not eager to take on such an emotional issue.
State law is silent on whether gays or lesbians
can adopt foster children. Unmarried couples can't
adopt foster children jointly. An unmarried individual
can adopt a child and live with another person, but
only the person who adopted would have legal custody. Last
month DeCastro said Huebert's issue wouldn't be the
focus of the hearings, but she expected the topic
would be discussed. (AP)
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