Question: What is Act 1 in Arkansas?
Arkansas voters had the chance to decide the fate of foster and adoptive children in the November 2008 elections. At issue is whether or not gay and lesbian couples make good parents.
Answer: Arkansas Act 1 was passed by voters on November 2008.
Here is the wording of Act 1, the Arkansas Unmarried Parent Adoptive Ban:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS
Section 1: Adoption and foster care of minors.
(a) A minor may not be adopted or placed in a foster home if the individual seeking to adopt or to serve as a foster parent is cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage which is valid under the constitution and laws of this state.
(b) The prohibition of this section applies equally to cohabiting opposite-sex and same-sex individuals.
About Act 1
- This proposal bans anyone who is unmarried from serving as a foster or adoptive parent—gay and straight alike.
- It affects both private and public adoptions.
- It is unclear whether single people will be prohibited from adopting children.
