As oral arguments begin in a Florida appeals court about the constitutionality of a law banning gay people from adopting, deputy solicitor general Timothy Osterhaus defended the rule in the most haphazard of ways: by claiming gay families are inherently less stable than straight ones. This is funny, because Florida has more divorces among heterosexual married couples than any other state in the country.
But Osterhaus maintains gays as a group can be excluded based on higher rates of domestic violence, psychiatric disorders and breakups.
He argued the law is valid under a rational basis legal test, which [Miami-Dade Judge Cindy Lederman in the 2006 case] rejected.
All of the problems cited by DCF are screened for in the adoption process, said Elliot Scherker, a Greenberg Traurig shareholder in Miami who represents the children, and American Civil Liberties Union attorney Leslie Cooper of New York. They noted the state makes daily determinations on fit parents.
“There’s no reason for group bias,” Scherker said.
We’re sorry, but did Mr. Osterhaus actually make that claim with a straight face? Because Florida consistently has one of the highest divorce rates in the country; in 1998 it was tops, with over 80,000 splits. In 2002, it was No. 8 with a 5.4 percent divorce rate, which meant people were getting divorced at more than half the rate they were getting married.
And this is representative of a institution and demographic that’s worthy of adopting children?
Jaroslaw
The Bible Belt has more of everything negative (molestation, fornication, alcoholism as well as divorce) when compared to other areas. Interesting to say the least.
schlukitz
@Jaroslaw:
That’s how these sort of people earned the name “Holier than thou!” ;o)
Kid A
Florida is one of the most bigoted places I’ve ever been. Had to be here two years, but am moving back to Michigan in 2 weeks. Can’t say I’ll miss getting nearly physically assaulted in Taco Bell.
Jaroslaw
Terrwill/JonJon – I certainly understand where you’re going with the above post and I definitely agree it is hypocritical to advocate for no abortions or whatever and then not helping.
BUT if to many, myself included, abortion is murder – and the “fact” it is wrong does not give me more responsibility to take care of your unwanted children than YOU.
If I have more responsibility than YOU for your actions, then I get to order you to stop screwing and making a bunch of babies you can’t take care of and/or use birth control.
“Gay Adoption” is a completely different subject because there is absolutely no disputing the facts. Either children come out ok with Gay parents/foster parents or they don’t. Every single shred of evidence is the kids come out just fine. In fact, lesbian parents are the best. Boys are less violent, discuss things more, but lest this be misconstrued, they fight when necessary. (eg they’re not “girly boys”)
Jaroslaw
I got the analogy ready now:
You said for people to be against abortion, they have to take in all the crack babies etc.
For me to justify a law against stealing, by your same logic I’d have to pay for what criminals WOULD be stealing so then they wouldn’t have to steal?
Glennmcgahee
An interesting twist to this Florida policy is our govenor’s recent appointment to the Senate of a Republican who supports gay adoptions. He’s only in until the 2010 elections when Gov. Crist himself wil run for the spot but hopefully we’re seeing a change in the wind. We’ll see. Historically, its the people living in the Panhandle area of the state that are the bigots but they are everywhere, the church’s are the culprit. The same churches that put Obama in office. His campaign began in those churches. Why can’t we get him to re-visit his religious supporters and talk about discrimination?