Gay adoption ban stands

last updated 8 January 2015

Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Supreme Court this week refused to hear a challenge to a Florida law barring gay and lesbian couples from adopting children. Florida is the only state that bans such adoptions outright, and the court’s refusal to hear the case leaves the law in place. Other states may now pass similar laws. Three gay men raising children as foster parents had challenged the law, saying it was discriminatory and would hurt orphaned children. “Sexual orientation has nothing to do with whether someone is a good or bad parent,” said Matthew Coles of the ACLU. Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel said the court had merely confirmed the wisdom of raising kids in traditional families.