GOP Chair Cuts Off Child Testifying Against Antigay Bill

The son of two men pleads for Florida to reject a bill that would allow private adoption agencies to turn away same-sex parents.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

April 04 2015 3:52 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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A Florida House committee advanced legislation this week that would allow private adoption agencies to reject prospective same-sex parents if they object to them on religious grounds. It now advances to the full House.

At the hearing on Thursday, a 10-year-old boy named Nathaniel tried to describe how he was raised by two men, who cared for him and his brother. One of Nathaniel's fathers was a plaintiff in the 2010 federal case that overturned Florida's statewide ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

"I was lucky to be placed with my brother, he was all I had, and he has looked after me since I was born," Nathaniel said. "In the home where DCS placed us we had two dads. We were happy and liked our new home a lot."

Republican committee chair Chair McBurney cut off Nathaniel, saying he was doing "a great job" but he had exceeded the one minute he was alotted to speak. Equality Florida, via Towleroad, posted a video of Nathaniel's intended speech. Watch Nathaniel at the hearing and his full testimony below.