Mitt Romney Once Supported Gay Adoption

In 2007, Mitt Romney supported same-sex couples adopting. This was before Romney pandered to the Christian Right ran for president.

Romney is now portraying himself as a culture warrior.

The values that Mitt Romney learned in his home have enriched his life immeasurably. With his parents’ example before him, he married, had five sons, and now basks in the joy of sixteen grandchildren.

Marriage is more than a personally rewarding social custom. It is also critical for the well-being of a civilization. That is why it is so important to preserve traditional marriage – the joining together of one man and one woman. As president, Mitt will not only appoint an Attorney General who will defend the Defense of Marriage Act – a bipartisan law passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton – but he will also champion a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Romney brags about being less government. A Romney campaign web site claims that the governor wanted to penalize the Department of Social Services for awarding a same-sex couple "parents of the year."

Some have criticized Romney for not taking action against the state Department of Social Services when they named a same-sex couple as "parents of the year" in 2006(32). However, after the court legalized gay marriage, the same anti-discrimination laws(30) which prevented Romney from protecting Catholic Charities also prevented Romney from penalizing the employees who were involved in determining the "parents of the year," or from ordering them to only consider opposite-sex candidates.

The once tolerant Romney is campaigning on xenophobia. Romney should be so proud of himself.

Hat tip to GottaLaff.

Florida Gay Adoption Ban Ends

Department of Children & Families Director George Sheldon announced that Florida's ban on gay and lesbians adopting is over. Sheldon also said the decision affected the Frank Gill adoption case.

"The Gill family adoption is now final. They can take pride that they are now a family in the eyes of the state and they can take pride that their struggle has closed the chapter on this law for good," Sheldon said.

The DCF sent out this press release.

Based on the ruling that the current law is unconstitutional, you are no longer to ask prospective adoptive parents whether they are heterosexual, gay or lesbian, nor are you to use this as a factor in determining the suitability of applicants to adopt. Focus your attention on the quality of parenting that prospective adoptive parents would provide, and their commitment to and love for our children.

Florida politicians showed incredible hypocrisy towards gay adoption. Gill was allowed to be the foster father of two brothers because of the shortage of foster parents. Gill wanted to adopt the brothers so they would not become separated. Republican politicians were against gays adopting by using bogus claims that children would be brainwashed into the gay lifestyle. Republican Attorney General used (now outed) gay Christian conservative George Rekers to help make his case. Judge Cindy Lederman did not find Rekers' testimony to be credible.

Florida joins the 21 century on adoption. If Rick Scott becomes governor he will attempt to change the policy and waste more tax dollars fighting for a discriminatory adoption policy.

Crist & Sink On Gay Adoption

Charlie Crist say his position on gay adoption has not changed, but evolved. That is a politically clever way of saying his position has changed.

CRIST: Not really. It's more of an appropriate evolution. As I think most of us learn in life, the older you get the more tolerant you become and the less judgmental you are.

Crist was asked if he would have the Department of Children and Families drop its appeal against Martin Gill adopting his foster children. Judge Cindy Lederman awarded Gill custody. The appeal is currently tied up in the system.

Crist has said he will look at the case before making a decision. Crist's term as Governor will be over soon and there is a limited window of opportunity for him to make a decision on the case. LGBT rights groups are pressuring Crist to drop the appeal.

Sink made this statement on gay adoption.

SINK: Every case should be evaluated individually and that it should be left to the experts who know most intimately about that child's well-being and the judge. There should be no discrimination.

It is a welcome to see candidates not bashing gays this campaign season. Actions need to match the rhetoric. Crist can have the DCF drop the costly suit against Gill's adoption. Sink can speak out more about gay rights issues. Both candidates are cautious political centrists. If either or both or elected, activists need to hold Crist and Sink to their campaign promises.

Nadine Smith Delivers Letter to Obama

Praise goes out to Nadine Smith for delivering a letter from young Florida boys that do not want to be taken away from their gay parents. I am not sure if these were the boys adopted by Frank Martin Gill.

Jim Johnson had a great right-of-center take on Florida's gay adoption ban.

Heck, removing the ban would actually SAVE money. Foster parents get more financial assistance from the state than adoptive parents do — so if more foster parents, even homosexuals, want to adopt AND the court system agrees it would be best for the kids, then let them adopt.

This isn't about fiscal conservatism. The Republican dominated legislature does not want to be on the bad side of the Christian Right. The end result is too many kids end up without adoptive parents.

Florida LGBT News

Progress Florida is running an online petition to get Sen. Bill Nelson to support repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Dear Sen. Nelson:

The time has come to end discrimination in our armed forces. We, the undersigned Floridians, ask you to help repeal the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law by supporting S. 3065, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has resulted in the loss, through discharge, of more than 13,000 service members since it was implemented in 1993. These discharges have included Arabic linguists, pilots, medics and others that held critical skill sets. The law has destroyed thousands of careers and compromised the strength of our over-burdened military.

Ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the right thing to do – for justice and for national security. Please support S. 3065 today.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Frank Gill became the first gay man to adopt children in Florida. Judge David J. Audlin Jr. ruled the gay adoption ban unconstitutional. The state of Florida appealed. Judge Cindy Lederman upheld the ruling on appeal. Lederman was later demoted.

Gill and his sons has been invited to the White House Easter Egg Roll. Equality Florida issued a press release.

"Florida's adoption ban is the most notorious state law in the country and we continue to work toward the day when it will be an embarrassing footnote in our nation's history," said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. Miami-Dade residents Mayda Perez and Simone Mayer and their three children will also
attending the event.

Alex Sink Supports Gays Adopting

Florida CFO and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink announced her surport for allowing gays to adopt.

``We need a system in which all of our children are assured that they live in a healthy, loving home -- a home that's determined not by any law,'' Sink told about 300 gay activists who packed a gallery of modern artwork at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. ``The decision has to be made by the judge, in consultation with the experts, to determine what is the best for that individual child.''

Sink made the announcement at an Equality Florida fundraiser. Sink said she looked forward to working with state Sen. Nan Rich. The latter has repeatedly introduced bills to reverse the law forbidding gays from adopting. The Department of Children and Families are overloaded with 20,000 kids in the foster care system. Gays are allowed to be foster parents.

Sue Carlton wrote a heartbreaking op-ed about Martin Gill and his domestic partner attempting to adopt two brothers. Gill was only suppose to care for the boys a couple of months. The brothers were never adopted and lived with Gill for five years. Gill is attempting to adopt the brothers so they will not be separated in the system.

Gay adoption is an alien concept to many straight people. The secret is Florida has no problem allowing gay foster parents care for children. If these politicians were really afraid kids were endangered then they wouldn't allow gays to be foster parents. To hypocrisy is sickening. I'm glad Alex Sink is willing to change the current status quo.

Charlie Crist: the Undecider on Sonia Sotomayor and Gay Adoption

Herald/Times video: Charlie Crist and the press | Naked Politics- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Charlie Crist was asked about his opposition to Sonia Sotomayor and his position on gay adoption. Crist cited the Second Amendment as his reason for his opposition to Sotomayor. Crist ducked the gay adoption question. The video doesn't show Crist's statement. The Governor said on gay adoption: "I'd have to think about it." LGBT blogger Pam Spaulding responded forcefully.

That's kind of you, Charlie, to give up a few firing off of the synapses in your brain regarding the issue for the homos. How about doing it for the children who are languishing without enough loving homes to be placed in because of homophobia.

My prediction is Crist will soon come out (again) against gay adoption. Crist refused to offer an opinion on Sotomayor. He was attacked for his undecisiveness by opponents Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek. Crist responded to the pressure by announcing his opposition to Sotomayor.

“While I have not had the opportunity to meet personally with Judge Sotomayor—a crucial step in the selection process—I have reviewed and reflected upon her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and come to the conclusion that I cannot support her appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor is worthy of respect for her many accomplishments and her remarkable story of success. However, I have strong concerns that Judge Sotomayor would not strictly and objectively construe the constitution and lacks respect for the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. For these reasons, I cannot support her appointment to the highest court in the land.”

Crist's campaign activity is attending fundraisers. The Governor has made no attempts to meet with constituents. That will change in 2010. Right now Crist is a fundraising machine and a political blank slate. Crist is a political shape shifter. Crist will become a Christian Right candidate one moment and a moderate reformer the next. No one really knows what Crist stands for and that is the problem.

Judge Cindy Lederman Demoted

Judge David J. Audlin Jr. was the first rule Florida's gay adoption ban was unconstitutional. Judge Cindy Lederman was the second judge. Neither ruling changed Florida's anti gay adoption law. Both rulings only effected the communities the decisions was cast.

Lederman is getting demoted.

The new chief judge, Joel H. Brown, issued a short statement Monday to The Miami Herald through a spokeswoman, saying he had tapped Circuit Judge Orlando Prescott, currently in criminal court, as the new administrative judge in juvenile. Circuit Judge George Sarduy, already in child welfare court, will serve as Prescott's deputy.

''Since being elected chief judge in February, I have carefully assessed the current and future needs of the circuit,'' Brown said.

''Judges Prescott and Sarduy were chosen in an effort to allow for new leadership opportunities and to bring fresh perspectives, as well as their own strong backgrounds, to the leadership of the Juvenile Division,'' Brown said. ``Both are well respected for their passionate commitment to the law and to the community they serve.''

Waymon Hudson recounts his experiences with Lederson.

When we appeared before her to become the foster parents of our son, she was fair, smart, and completely invested in doing what was best for him. She teared up when we gave him a permanent home (as permanent as possible under the ban) and saw how happy we all were in subsequent court appearances. She had been his judge for years, often corresponding with him during tough times, like when the state made horrible decisions that ended up leaving him homeless.

She even hugged him and us after the initial hearing.

My family, and the many other families that Judge Lederman helped form and became part of, will miss her leadership and compassion.

It is hard not to see Brown's decision to demote Lederman as not being about politics. Brown is an elected official and has to run again. Lederman will continue to serve in juvenile court. She will no longer be the head judge.

Charlie Crist's Position On Gay Adoption

Charlie Crist's exchange with the media provided the usual feel good spin. Crist was asked for his position on gay adoption. To say his response was vague is an understatement.

Q: Do you support Sen. Nan Rich’s bill banning the ban on gay adoptions?

A: I’d have to see the full language on it, but I feel the same way as I have before.

Q: What is that?

A: The way I felt before. You going to come to the (Christmas) tree lighting?

Rich filed a bill last year to end the ban on gay adoption. She will file the bill again in the upcoming session.

"We need to get rid of it," Rich said. "However it gets done, we need to protect children."

The Miami Circuit Court decision proclaiming the ban on gay adoption unconstitutional is headed for future legal challenges. So what is Crist position?

This is from a 2006 radio interview Crist did with Jim Defede.

"Haven't taken a position yet," Crist told DeFede.

"Not thought about it one way or the other?" DeFede asked.

"Not extensively," Crist replied. "I haven't reached a conclusion, is what I said."

Later on Friday, when asked to clarify his position, Crist backed away from his radio comments. He told the St. Petersburg Times that he does not support repealing the adoption ban.

"My position is the traditional family is the best to adopt," Crist said.

He called the two sets of statements a "nuance" and said that the issue of gay adoption "is not a major focus of my campaign."

Crist's position in 2006 implied he would rather not take a position. Crist wasn't kidding when he said, "I feel the same way as I have before." Unfortunately for Crist, the issue isn't going to disappear. Crist reminds me of the character Mayor Tommy Carcetti from The Wire. Carcetti let the schools and police department go broke because acknowledging the problem would hurt his chances of becoming Governor. When Carcetti is presented with a political crisis, he issues a cover up and demands the his underlings fall on their swords. Look at Florida going broke and ask yourself if Crist isn't thinking about running for president in 2012.

Mayor Carcetti's courageous leadership in action.

LGBT Update

Charlie Crist says he won't campaign for Amendment 2.

Judge David J. Audlin Jr ruled that Florida's gay adoption ban is unconstitutional.

"Contrary to every child welfare principle," Audlin wrote, "the gay adoption ban operates as a conclusive or irrebuttable presumption that ... it is never in the best interest of any adoptee to be adopted by a homosexual."

A DCF case worker "highly" recommended that the Key West gay couple adopt the boy. Judge Audlin ruled that the adoption was in the "best interest" of the boy.

Great Moments In Florida History

Which state has laws that clearly forbid gay adoption? If you guessed Florida then you get a cookie.

In 1977, former Miss America runner-up Anita Bryant was positive that gays and lesbians wanted to adopt children to foster a new generation of homosexuals. "Since homosexuals cannot reproduce," Bryant said, "they must recruit and freshen their ranks." Bryant spoke of the LGBT community, as if it was run like a division 1 college football team.

Bryant recruited her own blue chip Christian conservatives; including sexual puritan Jim Bakker to repeal an anti-gay and Tink Winky arch-enemy Jerry Falwell. Together they defeated an anti-gay Dade County anti-discrimination ordinance. Bryant went on to ban gays and lesbians in Florida from adopting. Now Florida has foster children performing below grad level and running away.

The Supreme Court had an opportunity to hear the case Angela Gilmore v. the Department of Children & Familes and Charlie Crist. The plaintiffs argued that the law violated their 14th amendment rights due process and equal protection. The plaintiff cited the Lawrence v. Texas decision, as protectinh their sexual privacy. The 11th Circuit Court ruled that the plaintiffs arguement was moot. "Adoption is not a right; it is a statutory privilege," the Court reasoned. The Supremes wouldn't bother hearing the case.

Presidential candidate John McCain publicly stated he is against gay adoption. The Straight Talker ducks the question about what to do about children stuck in the foster care system.

Q: President Bush believes that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. Do you agree with that?

Mr. McCain: I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no I don’t believe in gay adoption.

Q: Even if the alternative is the kid staying in an orphanage, or not having parents.

Mr. McCain: I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents.

Q: But your concern would be that the couple should a traditional couple —

Mr. McCain: Yes.

Anita Bryant promoted Florida orange juice. From these clips you learn that cans grow on trees and Bryant enjoys singing in orange groves.

Ultrasound Bill Dead

The ultrasound bill will not make it to Charlie Crist's desk. Which I'm sure doesn't bother the UnDecider. The Florida Senate vote was split 20 to 20. Republicans were having a hard time saying they were pro-life, as they were cutting state funding to adoption.

Surprisingly, Republican Jim King made the best argument against the bill.

Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said the bill violates Republican principles of less government. “This is not less government, it’s more government -- it’s government intrusion.”

“Unless you ovulate or have ovulated, we have no business as males interfering with this decision,” he said.

Sen. Ronda Storms had the audacity to say that "women use abortion or self-induced miscarriage as entertainment." I have heard abortion described as many things, but never entertaining. This is the same woman that claimed sex education would lead to "prematurely deflowering kindergartners and first- and second-graders."

I have followed Storms's career for years and she continues to out bat shit insane herself. Truly scary and amazing.