Will Kansas Ban Gays from Adopting?

In the wake of changes in the Kansas Constitution banning marriage and gay unions for same-sex couples, groups on both sides are talking now about whether Kansas will now make it impossible for gays and lesbians to adopt children. Here’s a story about it from the Kansas City Star.

Courts in Kansas already decide on a case by case basis whether a particular set of adoptive parents would create an environment that would be in the child’s best interest, and they certainly can and do consider the parents’ sexual orientation in that analysis. The question is whether Kansas should replace this with a blanket prohibition, leaving judges with no discretion.

Here’s a portion of the story:

“Are you going to be a practicing homosexual and teach that to the children?” O’Connor said. “As far as two men or two women living together as homosexuals, I don’t think we should be putting children into that, not on purpose, not as the government.”

The state doesn’t allow adoptions by unmarried couples, though unmarried individuals can adopt and serve as foster parents. The state doesn’t typically ask whether someone is gay or lesbian, said Mike Deines, spokesman for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

However, a ban on adoptions by gays and lesbians would follow arguments that traditional marriages create the best environment for children, said Mathew Staver, president of the Liberty Counsel, an Orlando, Fla., group that opposes same-sex unions.

If legislators agree, Staver said, “Then we need to have policies that reflect that policy belief. Homosexual adoption clearly doesn’t reflect that belief.”

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

One thought on “Will Kansas Ban Gays from Adopting?”

  1. You can belittle the policy behind KS law regarding heterosexual (only) adotioins via marriage, but the policy is sound.

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