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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > March > 30 > Entry
State lawmakers weigh in on adoption debate
Butler County’s four state lawmakers are united in support of a proposed local Children Services policy that would give preference in foster and adoption decisions to traditional married couples over single or gay parents.
State Sen. Gary Cates, and Reps. William Coley, Courtney Combs and Timothy Derickson added their voices to the clamor of public opinion on the topic in a series of letters to county commissioners.
All four are Republicans, and constitute Butler County’s entire representation in Columbus.
The letters cite a legal review of the proposed policy by Cincinnati-based Langdon Law LLC, which states the policy is in line with federal and state statutes (See the legal opinion at the bottom of this post).
“Further and more importantly, we are confident that giving first consideration to intact families in the placement of children is consistent with years of social science research demonstrating that an intact married family is the optimum environment for raising children,” says the letter from Combs, dated Thursday, March 26.
“Such data demonstrates that children raised by both a loving mother and father in a stable married relationship far better in every measured category,” the letter states.
Here is the full text of Combs’ letter:
(Click on the top right corner to enlarge)
What do you think?
Background
The policy was enacted by outgoing Children Services Director Michael Fox in December, and suspended by commissioners earlier this month pending a legal review by the county prosecutor’s office.
The policy states that, all other things equal, the agency will give preference to married couples over single individuals, cohabitating couples or gay couples (More on the policy here).
Sides have formed in the debate. The Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values supports the policy, along with an Oxford man who handed commissioners a petition with 88 signatures. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes it, along a Liberty Twp. woman handed commissioners a 476-signature petition.
Two commissioners have voiced support of the policy if it is deemed nondiscriminatory, and one opposes it.
Here is the legal opinion from Langdon Law LLC:
(Click on the top right corner to enlarge)
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Children Services
Comments
By ks
March 30, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this
While one can always come up with exceptions to any standard or rule of thumb, there is little doubt that giving preference to intact, tradional married couples is far better for the child than other arrangements. In today’s world of convoluted values and questionable or self-serving social units, the potential stability and welfare of the child must be given preference above all other factors.
By really?
March 30, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this
with all the kids these days that need foster parents how are we to favor a certain type of people.. these kids need stability and love and there is not one kind of family that can do it better.. its not gay, straight, single or married it should be who can offer that child the most stability in their time of need.. to base it on ones sexual preference is absurd
By KP
March 30, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this
Weren’t Liz and David Carroll a “traditional married couple”? I believe I would rather see a foster child go to a single parent or same-sex couple than a traditional married couple such as them. One’s sexual orientation has nothing to do with one’s ability to care for a child.
By Steve L
March 30, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
Where is this “data” they are talking about all the time? Something CCV put together? the same group that hates everyone that isn’t a “Shove it down your throat Christan Crusader?” This is all nonsense, I know many gay couples w/ children who IMHO provide a much more stable environment then a lot of other “traditional parents”.
By redsailor
March 31, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this
Listening to ccv, is like taking advice from the taliban, maybe worse. These people would make the nazi’s proud.
By Rich
March 31, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
I echo Steve L’s comment — WHERE do we find the data supporting Combs’ claim of “…years of social science research demonstrating that an intact married family is the optimum environment for raising children.” Combs and company might be surprised to see this from a technical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled “Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents”: “A growing body of scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1 or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual. Children’s optimal development seems to be influenced more by the nature of the relationships and interactions within the family unit than by the particular structural form it takes.” See this: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;109/2/341 Imagine that — good families come in all shapes, sizes, and mixes. Some heterosexual marriages are good situations for children, some aren’t — and the same is true for same-sex households. How radical and unexpected!
By Morton
March 31, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this
All these guys use data and make statements of fact that are never documented. What I find strange is that the news media (Hamilton Journal) never calls on them for supporting documents for these wild statements. Don Dixon is the worst for stating things as fact when there is absolutely no basis for it, yet the Journal News takes it as fact and never questions or checks on it. Best rule is believe nothing they say or the Journal News prints.
By Alice
April 1, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this
Four more Republicans playing politics just means four less re-elected Republicans in the next election.