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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Homo / News Meanwhile in Florida

Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 12:21 PM

A little good news—for gays and lesbians, for kids that need parents, and for justice and common sense:

A judge on Tuesday overturned a strict Florida law that blocks gay people from adopting children, declaring there was no legal or scientific reason for sexual orientation alone to prohibit anyone from adopting.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman said the 31-year-old law violates equal protection rights for the children and their prospective gay parents, rejecting the state's arguments that there is "a supposed dark cloud hovering over homes of homosexuals and their children."
She noted that gay people are allowed to be foster parents in Florida. "There is no rational basis to prohibit gay parents from adopting," she wrote in a 53-page ruling....

The ruling means that Martin Gill, 47, and his male partner can adopt two brothers, ages 4 and 8, whom he has cared for as foster children since December 2004.

"I've never seen myself as less than anybody else," Gill said. "We're very grateful. Today, I've cried the first tears of joy in my life." He said the two boys have been practicing writing their new last names, and the older one said: "That's what's going to make us a family."

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A victory for children needing good homes. A defeat for senseless right wing hate laws.

Posted by Vince on November 25, 2008 at 12:30 PM

i love it when reason prevails....

Posted by boxofbirds on November 25, 2008 at 12:44 PM

I'm guessing it will come up as an amendment in the next major election.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on November 25, 2008 at 1:34 PM

I'm sure this isn't the end of the insanity - but I cried tears of joy, too.

And I'm thankful to have something to be THANKFUL for this Thanksgiving.

Posted by Ayden/VA on November 25, 2008 at 2:05 PM

I hope this ruling stands.

Posted by elswinger on November 25, 2008 at 2:13 PM

Ahh, sweet justice!

Posted by Scott in Chi-town on November 25, 2008 at 2:56 PM

Dan, thank you for finding this oh so sweet story

Posted by 4f...sake on November 25, 2008 at 3:45 PM

And in Florida, of all places. This is great.

Posted by Greg on November 25, 2008 at 4:07 PM

Yes!

Posted by Aya on November 25, 2008 at 6:54 PM

Single-digit comments in 6 hours. You should know better, fellas. Good-news stories wont keep the readers coming back.

Posted by Yawn. on November 25, 2008 at 7:08 PM

See, this is why conservatives hate judges. They're always demanding that everything has to be about law, science and rationality when the WILL OF THE PEOPLE is CLEARLY in favor of bigotry and superstition. How DARE they circumvent the democratic process to protect the rights of minorities when there are children without good homes who need to be protected from dark clouds. Yep, every child needs a perfect storybook home! And if there isn't one, they need to languish in an orphanage until Jesus comes and makes the whole world perfect!

Posted by east coaster on November 25, 2008 at 10:41 PM