Website Nixes Gay Couples

Rosario Gennaro and Alexander Gardner knew for a while that they wanted to adopt children. In May 2007, the couple had a home study by a licensed social worker and obtained certification as Qualified Adoptive Parents from the New York City Surrogate Court.

But when they went to post a profile at ParentProfiles.com — a service of Adoption Profiles, LLC — they found that only "Qualifying Husband and Wife Couples" could use the profile posting service.

Unfair bias isn't new for the company. Adoption Profiles was sued in California in 2004 for violating that state's antidiscrimination law and, as a result, is no longer doing business there. Now it may need to pull its business from New York State as well.

Lambda Legal has filed a discrimination complaint with the New York attorney general's office on behalf of the couple. "We are committed partners who can provide a loving home for the child," says Gennaro. "Birth parents should have the opportunity to review our profile and see what a loving home we could provide for a child."