Arkansas high court unanimously rejects gay adoption ban

Arkansas high court unanimously rejects gay adoption ban

RAW STORY
Published: Thursday June 29, 2006

In a unanimous decision and sweeping decision, the Arkansas Supreme Court today struck down a regulation that banned lesbian and gay people from serving as foster parents.

The decision ends a seven-year legal battle between the state and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Pointing to the findings of a lower court that overturned the ban, the Court criticized the Child Welfare Agency Review Board’s reasons for enacting the regulation, writing, “These facts demonstrate that there is no correlation between the health, welfare, and safety of foster children and the blanket exclusion of any individual who is a homosexual or who resides in a household with a homosexual.”

more at:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Arkansas_high_court_unanimously_rejects_gay_0629.html

:)

"The Court went on to say that the state’s argument to the contrary “flies in the face” of the scientific evidence about the suitability of lesbian and gay people as foster parents. The Court added that “the driving force behind adoption of the regulation was not to promote the health, safety, and welfare of foster children, but rather based upon the Board’s view of morality and its bias against homosexuals."

What's that I hear? Is that the collective GOP complaining about how the courts are "once again legislating from the bench"? Because upholding freedom isn't an American virtue, at least in the minds of the GOP.

Wooo Pig Soooie!!

The Justices better beef up their security details. Good "christians" no doubt will be out for them now.

:toast:

Why don't the fundies just pass an amendment saying homos aren't actually people, it'd make thier hate-agenda much easier.

Attention Fundies! You may be mad at the Rs, but you should come out to vote for the Protect Children From Diversity Amendment!

:patriot: Nice going, Arkansans!

Just horrible. How can anyone think of allowing homeless children to be kept permanently in a warm, peaceful (and often fabulous) household on a permanent basis? Ah,...mmm. They should have a mother and father as God intended even if they are abusive drunks or criminals, er...um...hmmm. Nine-eleven, nine-eleven, nine-eleven!

adoption is done by the states. The state supreme court is the highest it can go.

About time one went our way somewhere.

I was dreading moving to a southern red state.

Arkansas has challenged my stereotypes about the South and is much more progressive than people give us credit for. We have hard core right wingers (e.g., Holt, Duggar, et al.), but these guys lose more elections than they win. We are represented by dems in congress 3 to 1 and have two dem senators (even if they sometimes take Lieberman-like positions on issues).

I Am Proud to be a HOG!!!

enlightened Democrats. Sen. Fulbright comes to mind immediately.

I was up there shortly before she died & she showed me an article about "this nice young man who is our governor" who was working on some project on the Arkansas schools that she approved of. (She was a retired teacher.) Although she did vote Republican from time to time, she did vote for Dems & definitely voted for someone we later came to know & love as the Big Dog! :loveya: Big Dog!

dg

I keep holding on ( Is that an old Doobie Brothers song?) to the idea that a whole lot of ordinary Americans really do care about fairness and are full of common sense.
We must find a way to combat the slick corporate one-liner knee-jerk attitudes of the right wing with messages that reach that basic sense of fairness.

Nothing kurdles my skin more than the thought of denying any supportive couple the right to adopt.

We're on the way to electing a Democratic governor this fall, we have 2 democratic Senators. We passed sensable legislation like this.

Methinks Arkansas could be the progressive beacon of the South!

I love the "unanimous" and "sweeping" parts

Message from the anti-Hog

just kidding

Go Hogs Go!

There are so many children who need loving homes, I'm glad that the court saw through the bigotry and hate that was behind the ban.

:toast:

Arkansas voted against gay marriage, btw. Some of these rabid right wingers make a lot of money and gain lots of power by appealing to the worst in people. I'll hope for the best though.

edit: recommended!

Start loading it up!

I love it when red states get their just desserts.

(yes, I know this is about rights, but freepers don't)

:bounce:

:-)

Although anyone want to start a countdown until we get the "activist judges" whine?

This is a good day for humanity. A step in the right direction for gay couples.