GAYS IN FLA. SEEK ADOPTION ALTERNATIVES: From the New York Times

A state law deems them unfit to adopt and their challenges have failed in federal court, but gay men and lesbians in Florida say that will not stop them from raising children.

Gay rights advocates say there are several alternatives, though they can be arduous or less fulfilling--foster parenting, artificial insemination, private adoptions in other states, and in some cases, illegal private adoptions in Florida.

Florida, with more than 4,000 children in foster care, is the only state that has a law banning adoptions by gays, but it does allow them to serve as foster parents. Last week, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to an appellate court decision upholding the ban. ...

Gary Sanford, 48, a consultant to children's services offices in the Southeast, says that some gay couples in Florida who want full parental rights are using artificial insemination. In other cases, members of gay and lesbian couples are teaming up to become biological parents.

Cathy James, a Tampa accountant, and her partner chose artificial insemination and now have a 4-year-old son. Because Ms. James was not the birth mother, she has no legal rights with the child.

more
posted by Eve at 7:58 PM | Link |

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home