Ohio Republicans disagree about lesbian and gay adoption.
A right-wing bill introduced in the Ohio Legislature would bar all
adoptions – and foster care – by gays and lesbians. Ohio could be
among 16 states to create law limiting children to specific
traditional family structures (a mother and a father or by
heterosexual singles).
Not all Republicans are convinced it’s a good idea. Ohio House
Speaker Jon Husted (R) says, “This is not an issue about gays, this
is about children”. Husted was adopted as a child. Although he
favored legislation to ban same-sex marriage in Ohio, he opposes
the adoption bill and has no plans to schedule a hearing to discuss
it.
A recent poll shows that citizens in at least two states do not
favor discrimination against lesbian and gay people who want to
adopt. When asked about a constitutional amendment to ban adoptions
by gays and lesbians, 58% of Missouri voters and 62% of Ohio voters
said they would vote against it.
There are about 520,000 children in foster care, according to the
North American Council on Adoptable
Children. Of those, 120,000 may be adopted – but only 50,000
will find permanent homes each year.
(Crossposted at: ProudParenting.com)