Statewide

NEWS RELEASE: Senate leaders derail controversial adoption proposal

Submitted by Brittany on April 20, 2015 - 5:26pm

Senate leaders derail controversial adoption proposal

Letting tax-funded agencies discriminate on religious grounds raised too many questions

April 20, 2015

Florida Senate leaders decided Monday not to vote on a controversial proposal that would allow taxpayer-supported adoption agencies to use religious or personal beliefs to discriminate against prospective parents.

NEWS RELEASE: Florida Senate approves repeal of gay and lesbian adoption ban

Submitted by Brittany on April 14, 2015 - 2:34pm

In a bipartisan vote, the Florida Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill designed to help more foster children find permanent homes. The bill also removes an outdated and unconstitutional ban on gays and lesbians adopting children.

Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin, spoke eloquently in urging his colleagues not to be swayed by objections that the measure might go against the religious principles of some private, taxpayer-supported adoption agencies.

NEWS RELEASE: Florida House Insists On Discrimination In Adoptions

Submitted by Brittany on April 9, 2015 - 5:08pm

Florida House votes for discrimination

Adoption bill is unlikely to become law, but it still hurts Florida's reputation

In an ugly symbolic move, the Florida House on Thursday approved an Indiana-style discrimination bill that gives taxpayer-funded adoption agencies a “license to discriminate” against gay and lesbian couples looking to adopt.

NEWS RELEASE: Lawmakers should abandon Indiana-style adoption bill

Submitted by Brittany on April 8, 2015 - 5:38pm

Florida Anti-LGBT Adoption Bill Enabling Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination Is Dangerously Close To Passing

The discriminatory bill puts anti-LGBT bias above best interest of children

Equality Florida and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) called on lawmakers today to abandon an anti-LGBT bill that will enable discrimination -- with taxpayer dollars -- against prospective LGBT foster and adoptive parents, and place children seeking a permanent home at continued risk.