Bill Would End Anti-Gay Discrimination in Adoption

The Washington Blade reports that Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) has introduced a bill in the House that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the area of adoption. The bill, known as the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, would restrict federal funds for states that discriminate in adoption or foster programs based on marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. As of Monday, the bill had no co-sponsors.

Currently, Utah, Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska and Mississippi have explicit restrictions on adoption that the pending legislation would affect. Florida, for instance, specifically prohibits gay people from adopting; in Arkansas, unmarried co-habitating couples are prohibited from adopting children.

Call or write you member of Congress and ask them to support H.R. 3827.