CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
An out lesbian who serves as Houston's city controller says that on the day she was set to adopt two foster children, the juvenile court judge refused to allow anyone in his court to preside over the adoptions. "[The judge] didn't think gays should adopt and that I ought to find another judge," Annise Parker said. She did. Thirteen-year-old Daniela and 9-year-old Marquitta had been in and out of foster care for years. Children's Protective Services had already approved placing the girls with Parker and her partner, Kathy Hubbard. Whether other openly gay Harris County residents have gone through a similar experience is difficult to gauge. Adoption records are sealed. But while Texas law neither prohibits nor protects adoption by gays--leaving the matter to local courts--gay rights activists say juvenile court judges in Texas have interpreted the law conservatively, giving the perception they discriminate against gays and lesbians. "Gays and lesbians have to jump through more hoops than heterosexuals, despite no proven scientific study that says [they] have any negative consequence on children," Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, told the Houston Chronicle for its Friday editions. Opponents of such adoptions say gays are incorrectly portraying the legitimate concerns of judges as discrimination. "We exercise judgments in being concerned about giving adoptive children to single [heterosexual] parents for the same reason we do for gays," said S. Michael Craven with the Dallas-based National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families. The Chronicle said Judge John Phillips of the 314th district juvenile court, who Parker said refused to let anyone in his court hear her case, did not return calls requesting an interview. Phillips could not be reached by telephone early Friday by the Associated Press. The 314th is one of three Harris County juvenile courts that handles adoption cases forwarded by CPS. The judges in the other two courts--Kent Ellis of the 315th and Judge Pat Shelton of the 313th--also did not comment. All three judges are Republican. A local GOP official said the party officially opposes gay adoption. "I hope that's how [the judges] interpret the law," said Court Koenning, executive director of the Harris County Republican Party. "I would think a vast majority of the Harris County population [that] elects these judges [does not want them to] place adopted children in a family with those types of situations." Connie Moore, a Houston family lawyer, encourages her gay and lesbian clients to not disclose their orientation in Harris County juvenile court or adopt in cities such as San Antonio and Austin. When Hubbard takes her turn to adopt, in a process known as second-parent adoption, she plans to go outside Harris County. Gays and lesbians who adopt local foster children, however, must work through Harris County's juvenile court. Seana Willing, executive director of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct, said no one has filed discrimination complaints against Harris County adoption judges. "If it's happening, it's a subtle thing," Willing said.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM