Despite a setback on Tuesday, Democrats in both houses are still trying to repeal the law that blocks homosexuals from adopting.
Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, and Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-Lake Worth, have introduced bills repealing the current ban prohibiting homosexual individuals or couples from adopting children.
Some children in Florida have been in foster care for years, Brandenburg said. This is unacceptable. Every child in Florida deserves a loving, permanent home. That is why I filed a bill that repeals the state law that prohibits gay and lesbian people from adopting.
During debate on Tuesday in both the House and the Senate about stopping the state from asking questions about guns to prospective foster parents, Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, withdrew amendments that would have overturned the ban.
John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, said, This is a desperate and illegitimate attempt to circumvent the process.
Referring to Richs and Brandenburgs bills, Stemberger said, They dont have the votes.
Sources in the leadership of both the House and the Senate confirmed that the bills will not get out of committee during this session.
When the Florida Legislature is struggling to meet the medical and education needs of our children, this ban makes no sense, Brandenburg said. When the Florida Department of Children and Families allows gay and lesbian people to serve as foster parents, it becomes impossible to understand the ban.
Stemberger disagreed. The law is good public policy for the primary reason that the standard in family law is what is in the best interest of the child, he said. There have been thousands of public policy studies in the last40 years that all say that being raised by a married mother and father is what is in the childs best interest.
He said, All social indicators like the emotional well-being of the child, grades, health, economics, all point to this.
Brandenberg said, This bill is about childrens rights. It is about their right to become part of a family.
Neither the House nor the Senate bill has been scheduled for committee vote.
Kevin Derby can be reached at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
