Arkansas doesn't want gay foster parents

They must think it rubs off or you can catch it like the flu.

They're not the first, unfortunately. I don't have the list (although it wouldn't be hard to find) but they will be joining several states with the same policy along with at least one which allows gay fostering but not adoption. I've even heard of one case in which a gay couple adopted an HIV child. While the child was ill, it was okay but once the child was doing better he was moved.

I'm not surprised. I lived there for eight of the longest years of my life battling for the Equal Rights Amendment. At that time, the legislature was comprised of old men (political hacks mostly) who thought Phyllis Schlafly was the greatest thing since sliced bread and couldn't stop talking about unisex bathrooms.

Gays and lesbians often take the kids no one else wants and do a superlative job. Why do Arkansas and the other states seem to think being shuttled from pillar to post is in the best interests of any child?

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You know what? I'm just gonna come out and say what I'm sure a lot of people want to say but don't, which is...

SCREW ARKANSAS.

Thwy don't want gay foster parents? Well we don't want them...or Missouri, or any state that mandates and promotes hate. Screw them all.

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They almost had me... and before you get out your flame throwers, hear me out... They ALMOST had me with the "protecting the spiritual and moral welfare", because I happen to be in the camp that says that a child's best chance is with a mother and father. Mothers and Fathers offer different but equally valuable guidance for children, and it's the ideal situation.

That said, they completely blew their argument out of the water with the "unmarried sex" nonsense, and the stance that it's ok for a child to be adopted by a single parent but not by homosexual parents. I think, given the choice between a single straight parent and a homosexual couple, I'd probably choose the homosexual couple, for so many reasons, not the least of which is the support that the couple gives to one another. That in-house support is absolutely necessary.

As for simply writing off Ark. with the "screw you" attitude... well, that's how apathy happens, and stuff like this thrives.

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Actually, LS, I'm not writing off Arkansas. I am actively advocating dropping several 500-lb. bombs on them. Anyone with me? Screw apathy, time to get NUCLEAR.

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Nikisma, I am with you girl, nuke em! no, not really. Thats one more way of grouping everyone into the category of closeminded people who dont deserve the right to vote. I am so often embarrased to be a married white southerner. I never fail to be disgusted by people and I guess it will never stop. As long as there are people around who believe that homosexuality is a destructive contagious disease they will always teach the next generation to believe the same ridiculous notions. Tell those kids from the projects with a single mother working four jobs that later became doctors and went back to support single mothers and people at the bottom of the totem pole that they had to have both a mother and a father to be a decent well rounded human being. I am sick of people denying people human rights because they dont agree with their lifestyle. There is no separation of state and church here. Its corrupt officials getting away with whatever they want because too few people will stand up and go against these archaic beliefs. Homosexual couples are actually more commonly the more stable couple, because so much bad is expected of them, that they spend their whole lives defending themselves and trying to prove that their choice in sexuality doesnt make them a monster. You want to see an abusive child molester? Look at your wife and child beating 35 year old white southern males. Not all of them, but look at the statistics. I can say this because of my own family history and how many hundreds of people Ive actually met that come from that background. Read a book, not just the bible and get a mind of your own you backwards uneducated morons.

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We shouldn't nuke them, I'm not in favor of taking lives unnecessarily. There is, however, a simple solution -- one of the few things my southern coworker and I agree on: The south should secede from the union. Eh, who needs 'em? (Mind you, I've often thought that the SF Bay Area ought to secede from the union, but then we'd end up having to support the rest of the country.)

Arkansas's position is, of course, utterly ridiculous. I am surprised however, about the looking out for our spiritual welfare. I thought that was what churches did? Silly me!

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I just read my comment again (Comment 1) and realized I misspoke. I said:

I've even heard of one case in which a gay couple ADOPTED an HIV child. While the child was ill, it was okay but once the child was doing better he was moved.

The word "adopted" should have been "fostered".

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I knew there was something else unusual about Arkansas. They have something called Covenant Marriage, first proposed by their governor, written into their state law since 2001.

Two classes of marriage - the Covenant, spiritual variety which is in addition to the garden variety promoted by the state and the "others".

http://www.arkansas.gov/governor/programs.html#marriage

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Mommy! Mommy! Arkansas is scary! Make it go 'way please?

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What is it about neighbours to the south, eh?

Looking down from Canada

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The fact that they're denying a whole bunch of kids the chance at a family is baffling to me.

Even if living in a homosexual household is "less than perfect", it's still waaaay better than being an orphan.

I can't believe how much pandering goes on, just to get a few extra votes, and how many kids are left behind. I just can't believe it. Almost makes me want to go into politics. Almost.

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As a resident of Arkansas, I can tell you why the state is doing this. I don't agree with it at all, just so you all know. This state has a church on every block, dry counties and smokeless towns all over the place. I'm sure there are other states out there that are just like Arkansas with the abundance of religious views. BUT the whole state isn't filled with closeminded morons. I for one see nothing wrong with ANYONE fostering kids. If you can take care of yourself and others, if you can support yourself and others then that is all that matters. So hate the law, not the state.

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LS, even if you don't like the idea of gay people raising kids (and I have to say I disagree with that view wholeheartedly, but that's another issue), knowing what I do of the foster care system, almost *anybody* would be better than staying in a group home or even (as some kids I know had it) a psych ward, simply because that's where the beds are.

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GAy parents can be wonderful parents just like heterosexual parents. I happen to have a relative who is gay. She *was* married to a man as was her partner. Together they have 5 teenagers. ALL of them are honor students. One just graduated from HS with honors and also made eagle scout. He has several scholoarships to choose from. I feel that is a hard parenting act to follow.

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Arkansas, back when I lived there, had a habit of electing good governors and terrible state legislators. Two of their governors became decent, liberal, U.S. Senators. And one was a two term President. The state legislature was another story and now they have a governor who supports their views.

I didn't hate Arkansas or its people. I still don't. I was just sad to see a state with so much potential cling desperately to the past. In the 30 years I've been gone nothing has changed for the better and in some respects it's become worse.

And it isn't just Arkansas. They're just the latest to jump on the bandwagon.

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Just b/c the old men of Missouri and Arkansas are making these laws doesnt necessarily mean everyone here believes that way. I do know my opinions on gays/lesbians and having normal rights are in the minority, but I agree: Hate the laws not the states! I think maybe Im too forward thinking for this lovely state I live in: Missouri!

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