On Monday, January 10th,  the US Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit challenging Florida’s status as the only state that bans gay people from adopting. Child welfare advocates, faith organizations and social justice groups will now turn their full attention to Tallahassee in an effort to repeal a ban based on bigotry that ignores what is best for children.

“Democrats and Republicans alike believe this discriminatory ban should be repealed,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “Today’s court decision places responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Florida legislators to see that the best interest of the child is the only criteria guiding adoption decisions.”

Reputable child advocacy groups continue to speak out against the ban and have issued scientific research and clear-headed policy statements condemning laws that automatically exclude gay and lesbian people from being considered.  Among the organizations are the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Psychoanalytic Association, National Council of Adoptable Children, Child Welfare League of America, National Association of Social Workers, and others.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no credible scientific evidence that the sexual orientation of parents has any effect either on the quality of parenting or on the wellbeing of their children.

“Throughout Florida, thousands of children are being raised by gay and lesbian people, either as foster parents or, increasingly, as part of planned families,” said Karen Doering, staff attorney with the National Center for Lesbian Rights.  “It is time for the Florida legislature to step up and repeal this harmful ban so that these children will be able to enjoy the same safety and security as other children – protections that only legal adoption can provide.”

The legal arguments have hinged not on whether the ban is right, but whether a bigoted law is constitutionally valid.

Judge Birch, of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, wrote the majority opinion upholding the constitutionality of the ban, and added a personal note: “If I were a legislator, rather than a judge, I would vote in favor of considering otherwise eligible homosexuals for adoptive parenthood…I consider the policy decision of the Florida legislature to be misguided….”

We need you to help in the fight to repeal this discriminatory law and thereby expand the pool of eligible loving, nurturing and permanent homes for Florida’s most vulnerable children.

The two thing you can do right now:

1) Contribute to the fight to make the ‘best interest of the child’ the only criteria in adoption decisions.

2) Write to your legislators and tell them to repeal the adoption ban now. With just a little information from you, we will tell you who your representatives are.  We will also provide you with a pre-written e-mail you can edit or just send as-is.

Help make Florida the state you want it to be.