Ark.: Gay foster parents ban protects kids

[deadparrot]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Lawyers for gay couples told the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday that a policy banning homosexuals from becoming foster parents is unconstitutional, but the state argued that it protects children's moral and spiritual welfare.

Because the state has banned gay marriage, and its Child Welfare Agency Review Board bars unmarried couples who live together from becoming foster parents, gay couples cannot have foster children, said Kathy L. Hall, attorney for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The state is appealing a 2004 lower court decision that found the welfare board's 1999 ban to be unconstitutional.

The state's utmost concern is the health, safety and welfare of foster children, "and that can't happen in a home where unmarried sex occurs," Hall said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060615/ap_on_re_us/gay_foster_parents

[wicket]

1. "and that can't happen in a home where unmarried sex occurs,"

Are unmarried heterosexual couples able to be foster parents? Are singles?

Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber pointed out that the state allows single heterosexual individuals to be foster parents, but not single homosexuals. Hall said that unlike homosexuals, a single heterosexual parent "has the potential" to find a spouse.

:grr: :grr:

[MissB]

4. Nice circular logic, eh?

They can't be foster parents because they can't be married...

[MissB]

2. So what Hall is saying is that unmarried people have sex differently

than married people?

Why don't they just come out and be upfront with their predjudice - just say that they fear that gay people will molest the kids. That seems to be their (unfounded) fear.

[havocmom]

3. Somebody tell the wingers that every gay person came from

heterosexuals. Maybe they are barking up the wrong tree :evilgrin:

[Charlie Brown]

5. Arkansas bans relations among single hetero parents?

"The state's utmost concern is the health, safety and welfare of foster children, "and that can't happen in a home where unmarried sex occurs,""

So Mommie and Daddy can't have other relationships if they split up?

[sinkingfeeling]

6. There were over 3,000 Arkie kids in foster care in 2003, in about

993 licensed foster homes....do the numbers and then try to believe Ms. Hall. The ACLU is involved in this suit.

[gaspee]

7. I have to admit

I laughed at that last line. I wasn't expecting such a fricking out there statement from a state official. I nearly spit my iced coffee all over my monitor! Every time I think the ridiculous godbags aren't *really* in control of the country, I find out, yes, they really are.

[rodeodance]

8. "unmarried sex" geech! what the hell century do we live in?

.....The state's utmost concern is the health, safety and welfare of foster children, "and that can't happen in a home where unmarried sex occurs," Hall said.

[jedicord]

9. Yeah, and my married heterosexual foster father tried to molest me.

We need a heterosexual ban for the foster kids too.

[Ian David]

10. The state has no business defining or protecting one's "spirtual" welfare

[xchrom]

11. the tapeworm logic of kathy hall --

suck a living off the irrational fears of the backward and willfully ignorant.

[Kber]

12. I guess there is a shortage of kids for foster homes

and they have to use something to narrow down the lucky would-be care givers. Right?

Sarcasm

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Hmm...all the kids I know with gay parents seem to be doing fine.

If anything, they're more open-minding and perceptive than kids their age with straight parents. My one cousin lives in a conservative (by NE standards), rural area and her kid has no problem having two mommies. It hasn't been an issue with teachers or parents either. Of course, the town clerk didn't seem to "get it" when she went to register as a domestic partner.

[Zhade]

14. Fucking bigots.

NT!