Lambda Legal Statement on Arkansas Adoption Ruling

Little Rock, Ark - In response to a ruling Friday that overturned Act 1, an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples living together from adopting or fostering children, Lambda Legal Supervising Senior Staff Attorney Ken Upton issued the following statement:

"We're extremely pleased the judge has put the interests of children first.

This is the second time that radical anti-gay forces in Arkansas have been willing to deny safe, stable homes children just to express disapproval of gay and lesbian adults who are ready and willing to serve as fit parents. And let's be clear-- while Act 1 is aimed at any unmarried adult couple sharing a home, we all know who its real targets were: Arkansas' gay and lesbian couples, who are barred by a constitutional amendment from marrying.

When thousands of children need homes, it's cruel and nonsensical to limit the pool of loving parents just because one segment of the population doesn't like them. This ruling opens the doors of many, many homes to needy children. We applaud Judge Piazza for his decision and the ACLU for a case well fought."

Arkansas voters approved Act 1 in 2008, two years after the state Supreme Court overturned a policy that barred any person from being a foster parent if the person resided in the same household with a gay or lesbian adult.

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Chris Pulaski ruled Friday that Act 1 unconstitutionally requires an unmarried couple to choose between their relationship and parenthood.

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