While some gay men use the internet to find their next trick, Michael and Rich Butler took to the world wide web to find a baby. The San Jose couple logged onto a popular adoption site - the straightforwardly named Adoption.com - and hoped to post their profile, thus giving birth mothers a chance to offer up their offspring. Unfortunately for the Butlers, the Mormon owners of the Arizona-based site had three words for them: "No gays allowed".

Insulted and incensed, the Butlers called their attorney and filed a suit against the aforementioned owners - Nathan and Dale Gwilliam. The father and son team claim they can discriminate against the Butlers because Arizona doesn't share California's anti-discrimination laws. A judge, however, has ruled that the company must honor out-of-state laws and that the Butlers can go ahead with their proposed lawsuit. The case doesn't just help the Butlers, of course, but could set new standards for internet businesses. The National Center For Lesbian Rights' legal direction Sharon Minter says:

It means that companies that do business with California residents on the Internet cannot discriminate against LGBT couples... It's actually an emerging issue across the country whether Internet businesses have to comply with state anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws.

Certainly a significant step and, it seems, perhaps a chink in federalism?

Meanwhile, the Gwilliam's attorney insists the Butlers could have avoided the brouhaha if they had simply concealed their homosexuality. Sound ridiculous? Check this out:

If a homosexual man married a lesbian, they simply would not be asking the question, 'What is your sexual orientation?' It would not be an issue.

These people need to get on the internet and do a little research, don't you think?

Gay couple can sue adoption site [Bay Area Reporter]