http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/result ... .measures/

They claim that Arkansas Prop Initiative 1 is a ban on gay couples adopting children. This is not correct. It is a measure that would only allow couples who are married to adopt. It does not matter if they couple was gay or straight, if they are not married, they could not adopt.

Well that does effectively become a ban on gay couples adopting, in addition to more than that. But yeah, that's a pretty big mistake on their part.

What's the real motivation behind the whole thing?

I don't see how someone who is pro-family values, even if they don't like gay marriage, could possibly be against gay couples adopting.

They are essentially arguing that a child, who might otherwise not be adopted, cannot be adopted by a gay couple and will grow up a ward of the state. Essentially that child would be doomed.

You are correct sir.



That's from cnn.com

Essentially it's saying that if you aren't married regardless of how you swing then you should not be allowed to adopt a child. What's wrong with this? We don't need single individuals adopting children. Regardless of that individual's economic status.

Not sure how I feel about the foster parenting but it makes more sense for a adopted child or foster child to be in a home with two officially married couples which equals stability in my mind and not just a couple that are just sexually involved.

I was going to mention AZ's similar measure.

You don't get all the details on CNN or FOX, etc. But they said AZ's would ban gay-marriage, but it also said unmarried couples could not adopt either. Is that same-sex unmarried couples, or ALL unmarried couples?

Pretty much. It's not just the fault of the state, though. You should blame the adopting couples, too. Most just want a cute little baby, and overlook the numerous older kids and adolescents that need a home.

I ended up voting for it. I don't care if it is same or opposite sex relationship, if it isn't a marriage I don't think you should be able to adopt

Reason?

With the divorce rate what it is I dont see how a couple who isn't even married is stable enough to adopt a child.

ok...but with that logic....
With the divorce rate what it is how is it a married couple is stable enough to adopt a child?

i agree, i think the standards in arkansas are very lax when it comes to adoption and it needs to be stepped up.

Yes, but to this point?

What if the married couple would make terrible parents. Why should they automoatically be considered over competent common law couples or single people?

And even then how do we know the married couple doesn't harbor alien parasites that will devour the child for lunch. The thing with requirements is one can be a broad as they like in theory but you have to pick some sort of line.

its not like anyone who wants can adopt.

I'm still logging an overall complaint against this prop. I hope it fails.

Exactly. So unqualified single/non-married parents are thrown out as well. This only diminishes the pool of suitable parents.

polls close at 730 here in arkansas so i'll let yall know what ends up happening

The Initiative passed 57% to 43% not too surprising

After doing a little digging, CNN isn't wrong at all. This is not a ban on single people adopting, it's a ban on couples cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of wedlock:



So it is very much a ban on gays and lesbians adopting.

its a ban on anyone whos thinking about adopting that's not married Not just same-sex

Read that sentence. Bans adopting or placing minors in foster care with individuals cohabiting with a sexual partner out of marriage.

That's not to anyone who's not married. That's gays.

This measure would prohibit unmarried "sexual partner[s]" from adopting children or from serving as foster parents. The measure specifies that the prohibition applies to both opposite-sex as well as same-sex couples.

That's what CNN said. That's also how it appeared on the actual ballot. Only a lot longer.

Errrr what? So only Gay couple's co-habit without getting married? Thats news to me.

Right, but if a heterosexual couple is cohabiting together and they want to adopt, they can get married (they shouldn't have to obviously, this amendment is a piece of shit). Gays can't.

Also...how do they even enforce this? Security cameras in rooms a prospective single adoptive parents? This is just some stupid shit.