Gay and Lesbian Adoption ban struck down by Arkansas court

An Arkansas court found that children are not harmed by living with gay or lesbian adoptive parents. They struck down a state ban that prevented gay people and anyone living with a gay adult from being adoptive parents or foster parents in Arkansas. The court decision was the result of a suit brought by the ACLU for three potential adoptive parents.

Rita Sklar, Executive Director of the ACLU of Arkansas stated: “We’re 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.”

The Circuit Court Judge (Fox) rejected claims made by the state about gay and lesbian people’s suitability as adoptive parents. Some of the Judges findings:
*gay adoptive parents don’t increase the risk of psychological, behavioral, or academic problems for children.
*Children of lesbian and gay adoptive parents are just as well adjusted as children of straight parents.
*The blanket gay adoption exclusion can hurt children by excluding a pool of effective adoptive parents.