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July 15, 2008

McCain Denounces Adoptions by Gays

McCain Denounces Adoptions by Gays

Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain denounced adoption for same-sex couples this weekend in an interview with The New York Times. McCain, who with his wife, Cindy, has an adopted child, has aligned himself with President Bush, who vehemently opposes adoption rights for gays.

“I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family, so, no, I don’t believe in gay adoption,” he said in the article. "I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children. I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents."

In McCain's home state of Arizona, any unmarried adult can petition to adopt a child; however, the law does not specifically provide joint adoption by same-sex couples, according to the Human Rights Campaign. There is also no explicit ban on allowing a same-sex partner to petition to adopt a child of the other partner. Florida is the only U.S. state that bans all forms of adoption by gays.

Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, came out against McCain's views. "Love makes a family, but short-sighted positions like Senator McCain's can certainly tear families apart too," she said in a statement.

Kara Suffrendi, director of the Family Equality Council's public policy division, asserted that more than 75% of American homes don't follow the traditional married, heterosexual hierarchy. "We are a nation of blended and multigenerational families, adoptive and foster families, and families headed by single parents, divorced parents, unmarried parents, same-sex couples and more," she said in a statement. "This is what is true about lesbians and gays raising children: 30 years of scientifically valid research universally demonstrates that LGBT families are just as nurturing for children's growth and development as heterosexual families."

About 130,000 children live in the foster care system in any given year awaiting a permanent home, according to the Center for American Progress Action Fund. A joint study by the Urban Institute and the University of California, Los Angeles's Williams Institute shows that an estimated 14,000 adopted children in the United Statea are living with gay or lesbian parents. A national ban on such adoptions could cost the foster care system up to $130 million, placing the burden on states to foot a bill anywhere between $100,000 and $27 million, according to the report. (The Advocate)

Keywords:  2008 Election  John McCain 
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Reader Comments

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  • Name: Chris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-07-15 10:34 AM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    "Concerned" - You are one truly sad individual. Your arrogance is exceeded only by your ignorance.


  • Name: concerned@optonline.net
    Date posted: 2008-07-15 10:23 AM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Marriage should be between one man and one woman. I do not know how this society has become so deluded as to believe that there will be no consequence for the perverted behavior that has become so prevalent in our day. By perverted behavior I do not only mean gay and lesbian relationships. This perversion also includes the fleecing of citizens by large corporations, judges and juries granting unbelievable settlements in frivolous law suits and the aim of world financial giants looking to control entire populations and economies with no regard as to the well being of what they consider "ordinary people". These oligarchs possess some sort of sick justification that has them believing that they are more deserving than the rest of the worlds population.


  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 2008-07-15 7:11 AM
    Hometown: Worcester, Ma

    Comment:

    OK—this whole argument is flawed! The last time I checked, there is no law that says the “system” can only employee straight monogamous couples as caretakers. So if orphanages and half way houses can be staffed by gay and lesbians, where is the logic in not letting us adopt? “Oh let’s ‘protect’ the children from gay parents by keeping them in the system that is staffed by gays”. Come on!


  • Name: Sieg
    Date posted: 2008-07-15 5:00 AM
    Hometown: Mannheim, Germany

    Comment:

    The timing couldn't be better. Finally, McCain is showing his true colors and an astounding level of narrow-mindedness. If there were any gays even thinking about voting for McCain, their eyes should be opened by now. Any person or couple who has the love and financial means should be able to adopt a child. It's time that the archaic concepts of "family" according to Bush, McCain, and organized religions is relegated to the history books where they belong. Now if Obama can stand up for gay adoption, that should be worth another 5 points in the polls. Thanks, McCain for showing your ignorance and bigotry.


  • Name: Nick
    Date posted: 2008-07-15 2:03 AM
    Hometown: Phoenix

    Comment:

    Any respect I had left for John McCain just went out the window. I used to like him, and I and even voted for him as Senator (and he's about the only GOPer I've ever voted for, too). His drastic tilt to the right in order to win over the bigots in his party has not gone unnoticed, and I hope he not only loses this election, but he also loses his re-election campaign to Senate in two years (a real possibility if Napolitano runs against him). His close-mindedness sickens me.


  • Name: David Reed
    Date posted: 2008-07-14 11:18 PM
    Hometown: Vancouver, WA

    Comment:

    I wonder what the kids who are awaiting adoption would prefer? Would they prefer to be adopted by two men in a committed long-term relationship, or would they opt to pass on this opportunity by in order to wait for a "traditional" heterosexual family adoption. Children needing adoption want a family - you don't hear them saying that a heterosexual couple is the only option for them. In fact, all you hear is the bigoted hate mongers thinking they speak for the children. Are these people really looking out for the children, or are they instead seeking to further their own agendas? Any opportunity to become part of a family is what kids available for adoption want. A straight family, gay family, lesbian family or single parent (gay, lesbian or straight) adoption. It doesn't matter to the kids.


  • Name: David Reed
    Date posted: 2008-07-14 11:18 PM
    Hometown: Vancouver, WA

    Comment:

    I wonder what the kids who are awaiting adoption would prefer? Would they prefer to be adopted by two men in a committed long-term relationship, or would they opt to pass on this opportunity by in order to wait for a "traditional" heterosexual family adoption. Children needing adoption want a family - you don't hear them saying that a heterosexual couple is the only option for them. In fact, all you hear is the bigoted hate mongers thinking they speak for the children. Are these people really looking out for the children, or are they instead seeking to further their own agendas? Any opportunity to become part of a family is what kids available for adoption want. A straight family, gay family, lesbian family or single parent (gay, lesbian or straight) adoption. It doesn't matter to the kids.


  • Name: Tom
    Date posted: 2008-07-14 11:13 PM
    Hometown: Fort Walton Beach

    Comment:

    I am a reluctant resident of Florida, and I can tell you first hand how difficult it is to daily comprehend the ignorance that prevades this small Panhandle community in which I live. Everywhere I look, I witness an example of the very worst of humanity. I am a gay male with no intention of adopting anything (I don't even own a pet), but If I had the inclination to adopt a child, I certainly wouldn't raise a child in the Florida public school system - much less Florida. The wages here are very low, I'm single and working constantly, and I can bareley manage myself. My Gay uncle, however, probably could. He is a computer software designer, and his lover is a board member of The American Psychological Association. They have a wonderful house in the Carolinas, and have been together for many years . It is they who should not be denied the right to adopt, if they so choose. They are also active in the Episcopalian faith. John McCain deserves no response.


  • Name: lily11
    Date posted: 2008-07-14 10:42 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    I think everything has two sides. Some ppl may like the same-sex marriage better. I know some ppl on the online community BisexualMingle have such kind of marriage and they have a great life. So I think legal adoption for them is more fair.


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