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 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)