Today's Times-Picayune posted an interesting update on the current gay adoption conflamma. It seems that back in the heady days of helmet-hating Mike Foster, something called the "Commission on Marriage and Family" was established--presumably to talk about, you know, marriage and families and stuff. It's never been very active, but the folks at Forum for Equality are concerned that the adoption case will spur the commission--which is now appointed by the similarly helmet-hating Bobby Jindal--to push new legislation banning gay adoption. That wouldn't be surprising, given the fact that (a) we're in the bright red state of Louisiana, and (b) the committee's membership includes folks like Puritan-at-Large Tony Perkins. However, other members of the commission seem somewhat more level-headed:
Jindal appointee Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum director, said he believes gay rights advocates are simply overreacting to the Arkansas vote and California voters' rejection of same-sex marriages. Mills' group bills itself as "your voice for traditional families." He said the commission could yield ideas such as continuing to make it harder to divorce; devoting more resources to job training for single parents; and increasing state prisoners' opportunities to interact with their children.
But Mills and [commission chair Senator Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge] demurred on the question of gay adoption. Mills said, "That's really up to the Legislature." Broome did not offer her position.
Asked through his aides about the commission and specifically about his position on gay adoption, Jindal released a one-sentence statement: "I believe family is the cornerstone of our society and look forward to the commission's work on how we can do more to support healthy families."
At least one member of the clergy serving on the commission said he has no intention of parroting views of the traditional social conservatives....
The Rev. Chris Andrews of First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge said he wants to discuss ways to help all families, regardless of composition. He said he will resist any attempts to reduce the likelihood that a child might be adopted.
"In general, I would view adoption issues through the lens of whether an individual or couple has the ability to love and care for a child, " Andrews said. "I do not think that is something that is limited to a particular sexual orientation."
--full article at NOLA.com
Am I being a total Pollyanna? Am I putting too much faith in the common sense of our elected and appointed officials? Or am I being lazy? Probably all of the above.
Note: none of this is to say that I want kids--I have four dogs, which must be the equivalent of at least one child--but as an adoptee myself, I understand the value of placing kids in good homes. I fail to understand how anyone can argue against that.
