From Kathy Belge,
Your Guide to Lesbian Life.
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By Kathy Belge

The Issue:

• Determining whether or not gay people should adopt children
• Looking at whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to adopt as a couple
• Looking at the Florida Law that forbids gays and lesbians from adopting children
  

  Background:
  

Many gay and lesbian people are choosing to become parents. Some bring children with them from previous relationships or some couples impregnate through artificial insemination. Others are finding adoption to be their preferred method of bringing a child into their family. Since state laws vary on adoption rights, not every gay and lesbian person has the same ability to adopt.

Only four states, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California permit same sex couple adoption. Some states permit single people to adopt, others discourage it. Because gays are not allowed to marry, it can be hard for gay people to adopt a child in those states. Because Vermont has Civil Unions , both parents have equal rights in adoption cases.

Currently Florida specifically bans gays and lesbians from adopting. The law dates back to 1977 when Anita Bryant led a statewide campaign to over-turn Dade county’s gay rights law. Claiming that gays and lesbians were child-molesters, Bryant was able to convince state senators to vote for a ban on gay adoptions. The law has been challenged several times, but each time, it has not been overturned and remains on the books today.

The ACLU currently has a lawsuit challenging the law. At the center of the debate is a Florida couple who wish to adopt several foster children they have been raising for years.