Topic: Gay Rights
Florida Balances The Budget - Gives Kids to 'Gay' Couples! The Florida Legislature is set to debate a bill granting adoption rights to 'gay' couples. It's easy to balance the budget when you are devoid of morality.by Larry Warrick
(libertarian)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Florida Statute FS 63.043(3) states "No person eligible to adopt under this statute may adopt if that person is a homosexual."
HB3 by Brandenburg (CO-SPONSORS) Clarke-Reed; Culp; Fitzgerald; Garcia; Gibbons; Heller; Jenne; Kiar; Kriseman; Pafford; Porth; Rader; Randolph; Rehwinkel Vasilinda; Rouson; Saunders; Schwartz; Skidmore; Steinberg; Waldman has been filed and is slated for the 2010 spring session.
A companion bill in the Senate (SB102) was filed by Rich (NO COSPONSORS) and is identical. Here's the bill in its (short) entirety:
"An act relating to adoption; repealing s. 63.042(3), F.S., relating to the prohibition against adoption by a homosexual; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 63.042, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010."
A search for Florida 'gay' rights activity returns a rally in Tallahassee last March of about 1000 people, and a somewhat smaller rally in Orlando last January protesting the Defense of Marriage Act, likely attended by the same people. So where's the popular support? Out of a population of approximately 20 million people, about 1500 (generous estimate) are able to hijack our legislature and gain traction with 21 of our representatives in congress and one lone Senator. Why?
In fact, this bill was filed by a Democrat, has 19 Democrat cosponsors and one Republican cosponsor. Pre-empting the Obama speech to the 'gay' community on October 10, this is obviously an attempt by the national Democrat party to bring the States into line on 'gay rights' through the State legislatures in those States that still have 'gay' prohibitions on the statute books.
Of the 50 States, two still carry active prohibitions on single gay adoption:
Arkansas: Act One prohibits unmarried couples (both same sex and opposite sex) from adopting or fostering children.
Florida: Prohibits single and joint gay adoption.
Many of the States have prohibitions or are unclear about second parent adoption (gay partners). One has no legal position at all:
North Dakota statutes are unclear about any kind of gay adoption.
So much for the legality, what about the reality?
According to the 2000 U. S. Census, 33% of female same-sex couple households and 22% of male same-sex couple households already have at least one child under the age of 18 living at home and 96 percent of all U.S. counties have at least one same-sex couple with children under 18 in the household. Counties in Florida, despite the legal prohibition on adoption, are mixed between above average and below average incidence, with no Florida counties reporting an absence of this arrangement. Without getting down to individual cases, it appears that, in Florida, we have 'gay' couples raising children in their homes that are not legally supposed to be there. How could this be? Is it that those with 'gay' leanings are so loving and giving that they are taking in homeless children from the streets and raising them? Could it be that one of the parents is the biological parent and has since separated and rejoined with another of the same sex? Certainly these are possibilities and may be true in some cases.
No, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is the Florida Department of Children and Families. According to aclufl.org, "DCF admits that if the ban on gay adoptive parents were lifted, the state would be able to take some children out of foster care and have them adopted." and "DCF admits that where a child is in foster care with gay foster parents and already adjusted to the placement and the family is meeting the child's needs, it would be detrimental to the child to move him."
"Florida DCF settles $1.3 million dollar lawsuit involving disabled teen repeatedly raped and impregnated by foster father".
"Broward Sheriff Child Protective Investigator arrested on Sexual Battery Charges for allegedly coercing a mother to perform sex acts on two separate occasions, or lose her children." Nothing coerces a parent like threats to give her children to a gay couple.
These are not isolated incidents.
"LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. -- Three child welfare workers were fired Friday over the handling of a case involving a 13-year-old girl who was found raped and fatally beaten while in state care."
"Jury Finds DCF 100% At Fault In North Florida Girl's Death. Father tells child dying in his arms: "I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you.... I did everything I legally could."" WARNING! This story is not for the fainthearted, and the list is endless.
This from a government agency whose mission is to "Protect the Vulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self-Sufficient Families, and Advance Personal and Family Recovery."
With the introduction of this seemingly innocuous bill, our partisan representatives in the Florida Congress are not only pandering to the national party, they are also providing the Florida DCF with an outlet for all of the children they (often dubiously) separate from their rightful parents every year. At present, if the DCF places a child with a 'gay' couple (shudder), they are required to pay that couple for their fostering services. By making it legal for these same people to adopt these children, they're off the hook for the maintenance payments. Kind of like leaving your dog with a friend and after a while 'forgetting' to drop off the food. The State picks up the tab directly and the agency is able to free up the unused budget money and expand its sphere of influence. Foster care is not cheap. In 2007, (latest available figures) Florida DCF spent $28.2 million on adoptive parent recruitment and training and adoption promotion services alone, and $2.8 million actually caring for kids.
Florida DCF was formed in 1969 to 'protect the vulnerable'. As a parent, that protection goes beyond the prevention of physical harm. It is also a solemn duty to protect and instill good moral judgment in our young and impressionable charges. The late Bennett Sims, the former Episcopal Church, USA bishop of Atlanta, GA, was a supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians. "[A] same-sex inclination is reprehensible, so that a type of humanity known as 'homosexual' has steadily become the object of contempt and discrimination." Can a person whose lifestyle is described as 'reprehensible' by its advocate be trusted to instill good character and moral judgment in a child? If so, by whom? Not by any caring parent I know. Certainly, the highest law in a Christian society gives no quarter to homosexuals.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams, October 11, 1798. And "Without morals, a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure... are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." Charles Carroll - signer of the Declaration of Independence, to James McHenry on November 4, 1800.
Shall we sit idly by and watch our morality and way of life slip slowly into the filth of this evil? Not I. I plan to contact my representatives in the Florida legislature and tell them to oppose this immoral convenience in economic manuevering. Every day, until it is no longer with us.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Larry Warrick only and do not represent
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Gee. Where do I start. This article was penned by someone claiming to be a 100% "libertarian?" A 100% libertarian really doesn't care who his neighbor is sleeping with, and doesn't believe he should have veto power over his neighbor's life as he or she or they build a family. Shall we do DNA tests on prospective adoptive couples to insure Moral Perfection? Shall we shuffle children from one foster home to another, because we want to deny them the right to be adopted by someone who is gay? Is that really what you're suggesting?! Florida's law is from another century, and needs to end NOW.
A step further: suppose some years into buidling a family, one member of a heterosexually married couple comes out and admits they're gay? Shall the State whisk these children away from their parents because it doesnt meet the Morality Test you'd like to impose? How consistent are you willing to be?
I'm sorry, but this article has no basis in reason, logic, good law, Morality, Concern for Children, or Libertarianism. It is pure Homophobic Theocracy.
P.S. - I'm gay, partnered, and my six adopted children would agree wholeheartedly with me.
Gee, Thom. How you live your life is indeed your business. There is nothing un-libertarian about having a moral compass. There is a higher power than the laws of man, or do you believe that something came from nothing as well? Using the violence of the State to expose children to your way of life is both immoral and illegal. The former will not change, no matter how you choose to argue. Repealing the latter for budgetary purposes and enhancing the power of an organization that should not exist in the first place is also immoral, and should be illegal. As for your other questions, I already answered them in my article. I do understand your need for adoption. Procreation in your circumstances is totally out of the question.
You're right...there's nothing un-libertarian about having a moral compass. There *is* something terribly un-libertarian about forcing those moral convictions on society through the engine of the state.
"The violence of the State to expose children" to my way of life? And what way of life would that be...a committed partnership, a secure job, a nice home in the country, a safe and loving environment? Be consistent, Larry: if you really feel that way, you ought to call on the state to prohibit adoptio of children by those who have ever committed adultery, who have every been inebriated, who have ever been divorced...because after all, you;d be using the viloence of the state to expose children to an immoral way of life, wouldnt you?
I think you're just a Theocrat in libertarian clothing.
One sure way to tell when you're winning is when the 'gay' liberal starts calling you names. You missed out the "guns and bibles" quote. Bet I'll be a racist homophobe next. Oh, that's right, I'm already a homophobe (see above) - halfway there. If you're so 'bent' out of shape about this, why don't you register and write a rebuttal? I'll be more than happy to comment on it. Or would you rather sit in the cheap seats and take pot-shots? You're off topic and wrong footed. Accept your damnation and move on.
Guns? Got lots of 'em. We're having a Pink Pistols Shoot at our house this coming weekend.
Bibles? Lots of them, too. I serve on the Vestry and in the choir of my local Church.
Racist? Gee, I wouldnt know that about you...would you like to explore that more?
Homophobe? Well, yes, you've pretty much made that clear. especially with the unnecessary and oh-so-1950's style quotation marks around the word 'gay' and the exclaimation point at the end of the heading.
Devoid of morality??? Larry the only thing devoid of morality is you and this tripe you call an article! All i see is how Homosexuals shouldnt be allowed to have the right to adopt. You seem very homophobic and biased. I do remember the bible saying ""Whosover believeth in me shall not perish" - it does not say "Whosover... as long as they are heterosexual and sin free......". Over opinionated people such as yourself are whats wrong with this country. You sit back and slander people whom have an alternative lifestyle, that makes you a BIGGOT, also remember the bible saying "do not judge lest thou shall be judged". Looks like you will be the one enjoying a nice hot vacation at club lucifer. It's uneducated and ignorant retards like yourself that are making it so gays are afraid to leave their homes, be themselves in public or for that matter be themselves period and that my dimwitted, predjudiced friend makes you no better than a terrosist.....hell actually that makes you a terrorist.....do yourself a favor.....find a new line of work and fast. Oh and Thom i agree with all that you said to this flaming idiot.
Should sexual practices between consenting adults in private be relevant to whether or not they can adopt children? No more than religious beliefs or lack thereof! To argue otherwise simply isn't libertarian!
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