New Adoption Law Aids Gay Parents Options

[thelma]

New Adoption Law Aids Gay Parents
Wed Dec 3, 7:26 PM ET


Christopher Curtis, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network



An organization that supports gay and lesbian adoption applauded a new law President Bush signed on Tuesday to expand government adoption incentives.

"Overall, this reauthorization will help place more children in families -- regardless of their structure -- including those headed by gay or lesbian parents," said David Wing-Kovarik, executive director of Families Like Ours, Inc.

The new law renews legislation passed in 1997 that gives $4,000 per child to states that exceed their adoption placement totals from the previous year. On top of that, states will receive an added $4,000 for each adoption of a child older than 9 years of age.

Families Like Ours believes since this law will encourage more adoption placements, it could mean more adoptions for gay and lesbian families. "This is money only provided to states that meet their numbers, and most states are not," Wing-Kovarik told the Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network.

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute notes that already public agencies are 83.3 percent more likely to place a child with a gay and lesbian family than in the past. In October, the institute found that among all adoption agencies, nearly 60 percent accept applications from openly lesbian and gay people, while 40 percent have placed children in lesbian and gay homes.

While President Bush has spoken out against same-sex marriage, his administration has recognized organizations that support building gay and lesbian families.

In November U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson honored, among others, the Child Welfare League of America, the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) and Frances Johnese, president of the California Association of Adoption Agencies -- all active supporters of gay and lesbian adoptions.

Mark Mead, political director of the gay Log Cabin Republicans, told the Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network that his group is "pleased" with the new law.