Topic: Adoption

The GOP Review

April 20, 2009 |

Election Laws, economic development and the budget are among wide variety of issues debated on Capitol Hill this week

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 16, 2009 – Election laws, economic development, the budget, telecommunications, and violent crime were among a wide variety of issues headlining debate on Capitol Hill this week. However, State Senators also took time on Monday to remember the victims of last week’s tornadoes in Rutherford, Sumner, and Benton Counties and commended emergency personnel for their handling of the disaster.

The worst damage was in Rutherford County where a deadly EF-4 tornado hit Murfreesboro packing winds of 166 mph to 200 mph, killing a mother and her baby. The tornado, which was a half-mile wide and ran a 28-mile path, set a record for the longest EF-4 tornado in history. Seven people were critically injured and about 818 homes were damaged, with 111 of those homes completely destroyed. The cost to businesses and residents has preliminarily been estimated at $40.2 million.

A Murfreesboro Gas station suffered significant damage (Chris Jackson)

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Anti-gay adoption bill ignores existing applicant shortage

By David W. Shelton | February 21, 2009 |

Despite the budget shortfall and other major problems that the Tennessee state legislature must face, anti-gay and other “morality” bills have found their way into consideration by lawmakers. Despite a shortage of couples and singles willing to adopt, a new bill, HB 0605/*SB 0078, the companion bills from Senator Paul Stanley’s (R-Cordova) and Rep. John Deberry (R-Memphis), would deny adoption of a minor to anyone who’s in a sexual relationship other than being legally married.

This isn’t the first time they’ve attempted such legislation, either. Senator Stanley and Rep. John Deberry were the same people who filed a more strictly anti-gay adoption bill last year, which failed. They also had a similar bill which would prevent unmarried opposite-sex couples from adopting. It foundered as well. This new bill is a combination of both of the previous bills.

Apparently, not only do bad ideas come from the same legislators, but the same bad ideas come from the same legislators. If it doesn’t pass the first time, then try, try, again. One doesn’t have to stretch the imagination too far to observe the visceral and sensitive nature of same-sex relationships and homosexuality in general. Just what do they hope to accomplish? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | 2 Comments

Anti-gay adoption bill filed in Tennessee

By David W. Shelton | January 31, 2008 |

2/4/2009 — Editor’s note: This is not the bill filed January 29, 2009. For details about that bill, please click here. This article was written in response to a similar bill filed in January of 2008.

Discriminatory legislation should be rejected

Yesterday, Rep. John Deberry (D-Memphis) and Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) filed companion bills that would prohibit “any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.”

The companion bills are SB3910 and HB3713. It is more than a little disturbing to realize that people believe–even in today’s world– that gay and lesbian people can not be (or already are) great parents. I think it goes deeper than that. Gay and lesbian people have consistently been the great whipping boys (and girls) of conservative neocons who appeal to a deep hatred for the gay community to help boost their own popularity. Sadly, this kind of contempt goes far beyond mere religious views.

Clarksville’s own representative, Rep. Joe Pitts, stands in stark contrast to Deberry and Stanley. Pitts has sponsored or co-sponsored several bills that directly affect a real threat to our children– child sexual offenders– which I applaud. These predators should be identified, deterred, and imprisoned at all cost. These vile predators are the real threats to our children, not loving, committed gay and lesbian people who want to provide safe homes for children. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | 5 Comments

Gay Adoption: Prepare for legislative battle

By Todd Hughes | October 25, 2007 |

The polemic surrounding legal rights for GLBT [Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgendered) people to adopt children is clearly well established. Every few years, the question is revisited, either as part of a moral debate or as a legal battle. During the next few months, we can anticipate introduction of this question, once again, in the Legislature. We should begin by considering some important facts.

First, according to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the following are the particulars regarding adoption by same sex couples in our state:

• Single GLBT people may adopt children
• There is no explicit prohibition against adoption for same-sex couples;
• It is unclear as to whether or not a person can adopt the child of a same-sex partner.

Second, there are currently no bills in the Legislature that would restrict the rights of GLBT individuals or couples to adopt.

So, where’s the “problem” and why are we talking about a “battle?” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

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