Court nixes Ark. anti-gay foster care ban

Pint0 Xtreme · Post by **Pint0 Xtreme** » 2004-12-31 02:44pm

http://gay.com/news/article.html?2004/12/29/1

Saying that children are not harmed by living with gay or lesbian parents, an Arkansas court on Wednesday overturned a state law that banned gay people and anyone living with a gay adult from becoming foster parents.

Circuit Court Judge Timothy Fox rejected the state's claims that gay and lesbian adults are unsuitable parents.

"This case has presented us all with an excellent opportunity to replace ignorance with knowledge and to make an informed decision based on information as opposed to assumption," Fox wrote in his decision.

Fox further noted that being raised by gay or lesbian parents does not increase likelihood of psychological problems, nor does it endanger the health, welfare and safety of a foster child.

The state's 1999 policy was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a lesbian, a gay couple and a straight man married for 31 years who was disqualified as a foster parent because he has a gay son who sometimes lives at his home.

"Throughout this case, the state has relied on ugly stereotypes to deny children in the Arkansas foster care system the chance of having the widest possible pool of foster families available to them," said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas. "Were very pleased that the court saw through these arguments and has recognized that gay and lesbian people can provide homes just as loving and stable as anyone else's."

Arkansas???

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-12-31 03:09pm

progress at last.

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2004-12-31 05:23pm

The Judicial system is the only branch of the government I have any real respect for recently. Go them.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-12-31 05:55pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:progress at last.

Really? Read the first line of my sig, then this.

Pint0 Xtreme · Post by **Pint0 Xtreme** » 2004-12-31 06:24pm

Frank Hipper wrote:
Enforcer Talen wrote:progress at last.
Really? Read the first line of my sig, then this.

FUCK! That's utter bullshit! Then now they'll have to appeal to the courts again on the basis that the law would be discriminatory and unconstitutional. Here we fucking go again.

Pint0 Xtreme · Post by **Pint0 Xtreme** » 2004-12-31 06:26pm

"From a Biblical standpoint, I believe that it's in the best interest of the child to not be placed in that environment," said Critcher, chairman of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

Aaaahhhh!!! Stop it!! It's hurting my brain!

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2004-12-31 10:16pm

And why the fuck does he assume everyone cares about what the Bible says?

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2005-01-01 12:30am

Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:And why the fuck does he assume everyone cares about what the Bible says?

Because enough people care to get him re-elected.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-01-01 08:25am

So the government, which is an indication of popular opinion, wants the Bible to be the basis of law in Arkansas, while an "activist judge" reminded them that the Constitution says no? Colour me shocked.