Senator Gillibrand Leading Push To Lift Gay Adoption Ban

Ben Yakas

Published Oct 28, 2011

Modified Oct 28, 2011

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In the wake of same-sex marriage passing in NY, as well as the federal repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, legislators are now turning their attention toward a federal bill to lift the last bans on gay couples and individuals adopting children. "This legislation would open thousands of new foster and adoptive homes to children ensuring they are raised in loving families," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said of her "Every Child Deserves a Family Act."

Although it is legal in NY for gay couples and people to become foster and adoptive parents, 11 states currently ban same-sex individuals from adopting. The House version of this bill, which was introduced by California Rep. Pete Stark in May, currently has bi-partisan support. Various LGBT family groups praised Gillibrand for spearheading the legislation effort—you can read part of the bill's press release below:

While most states permit single LGBT parents to adopt, many do not allow LGBT couples to adopt. Currently, five states prohibit same-sex couples from adopting (Utah, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina and Michigan). There are 6 states that ban same-sex parents from adopting their partner’s children. More than two dozen states remain silent on how prospective LGBT foster and adoptive parents should be treated.
A 2001 University of Los Angeles study showed that LGBT couples are just as 'fit, effective and successful as similar heterosexual parents.' There are two million LGBT people who have considered becoming adoptive or foster parents, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA. Currently 65,000 adopted children currently live with a gay or lesbian parent. In 2008, a Williams Institute study found that more than 10,500 same-sex couples are raising over 21,000 children in New York State.

Five weeks after the full repeal of DADT, gay and lesbian troops and veterans filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and federal policy that define a spouse as a person of the opposite sex.

And next week, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his TBS show, Conan O'Brien announced he will be officiating an on-air gay wedding at the Beacon Theater between a longtime staffer and his partner.