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.
House lawmakers Tuesday introduced a bill that would prohibit organizations receiving federal funds from denying adoptions or foster care placements to prospective LGBT parents.
The Every Child Deserves a Family Act, sponsored by Rep. Pete Stark of California, would "prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status" of potential adoptive or foster parents.
It would also bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity of the child. According to the Family Equality Council, 25,000 children "age out" of the foster care system each year and are not placed with adoptive parents. As a result, such children are at greater risk of poverty, homelessness, and incarceration.
"We simply cannot afford to exclude millions of prospective parents willing to take these children simply because of their sexual orientation, marital status, or gender identity," Family Equality Council executive director Jennifer Chrisler said in a statement.
Parity for LGBT parents in the adoption system has been undermined by recent antigay legislation in some states. Last month Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that would give preference to married heterosexual couples in adopting children. The legislation's aim is to prevent gay parents from adopting in the state, LGBT advocates argue.
"The governor's action ... is harmful to children in foster care and group homes who are seeking a permanent home and the support of a loving, caring family," Equality Arizona board chairman Tom Mann said following the bill's passage.
The Every Child Deserves a Family Act is supported by LGBT and child welfare groups including Family Equality Council, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Black Justice Coalition, and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
The House legislation currently has 34 cosponsors (text of the bill can be found here). A Senate version has yet to be introduced.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
September 19 2024 4:34 PM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Taylor Frey & Kyle Dean Massey's new 'spicy' gay holiday movie
October 04 2024 7:45 PM
Meet the transgender Lutheran pastor preaching acceptance: 'Nothing is wrong with you'
October 04 2024 4:39 PM
Oklahoma superintendent wants $3.3 million to put 55,000 Trump Bibles in classrooms
October 04 2024 3:39 PM
Monsters' Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez talk empathy for the Menendez brothers
October 04 2024 3:03 PM
Lauren Boebert forced to refund $67,000 in anti-trans donations for Olympic boxer
October 04 2024 11:39 AM
Colorado to pay $1.5M to settle anti-marriage equality 303 Creative SCOTUS case
October 04 2024 11:20 AM
LGBTQ+ support for Kamala Harris can't be taken for granted – especially in swing states
October 04 2024 11:20 AM
90% of trans kids get support from parents but half face bullying at school, new report finds
October 04 2024 10:42 AM
Ohio transgender woman Kassim Omar dies from 2022 shooting injuries
October 04 2024 10:38 AM