Kentucky Fairness Campaign to fight Tapp’s trap for LGBT families
February 20, 2009
We got a kick out of this editorial cartoon in the Louisville Courier-Journal that ridicules state Sen. Gary Tapp, the main sponsor of an adoption bill that would ban LGBT couples from adopting children:
And the Courier-Journal didn't shy away from criticizing the adoption bill as a mean-spirited, right-wing ploy on its editorial page yesterday:
With the state facing a severe economic crisis, Kentucky's General Assembly should be able to find something better to do than concoct new ways to marginalize gay people. But don't bet on it. You'd be overestimating some lawmakers. The latest travesty is Senate Bill 68, which would ban unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents. Since Kentucky forbids gay marriage, the measure would conveniently prevent gay couples from becoming foster parents or adopting children, no matter how qualified they might be. Lest you are tempted to think SB 68 is a harmless gesture on behalf of marriage and nuclear families, take another look. It's part of a carefully orchestrated national campaign on behalf of right-wing "family values" groups and faith-based agencies that want the state's help in making sure foster children and adoption candidates are only in the custody of married couples and single people who live alone. ....Well, bigotry is still bigotry, even when shrouded in a religious or "family values" fog. And history always proves prejudice to be wrong. While we wait for the fog to clear, SB 68's backers are willing to deny Kentucky's 7,100 foster children (of whom 2,200 are candidates for adoption) the chance to join loving households merely because the adults therein are gay. Is such an abuse of state power conservatism? Or is it just obsession?
Kindly mark our vote down for "obsession," please. If you live in Kentucky, use HRC's action alert to ask your state senator to oppose this legislation (SB 68). Kentucky's Fairness Campaign will also be hosting a rally on February 25 to encourage state legislators to support a statewide Fairness law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Here are the details on the event:
Fairness Rally and Lobby Day in Frankfort Wednesday, February 25
8:30 a.m. Meeting and Lobby Training in Capitol Annex 111
9 a.m.- noon Meet with your legislators
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Fairness Rally Capitol Building 700 Capitol Ave. Frankfort, KY 40601
For more information, please contact fairness@fairness.org http://www.fairness.org/mc/page.do
