Senate Bill 68, sponsored by State Senator Gary Tapp (R), works to ensure that any unmarried couple is not able to adopt. Supporters of the bill believe it strengthens the family unit and provides a secure home for an already fragile child.
Here are my arguments against this bill (take a look at a video produced by a member of my Facbook page that backs up the arguments):
1. Being married does not mean you provide a stable home. We have all heard the many stories of abuse, drug use, alcoholism, neglect that occur in "secure heterosexual married homes". The rate of divorce continues to be astronomical... this argument doesn't make sense. Just because you are married to someone does not mean you are a capable parent for a child.
2. This bill STILL allows for single parent adoption. Really?... this doesn't support the proponents of this bill at all. It is not better to have a single parent than two that aren't married, or of the same sex. The argument, traditionally, for a married couple household is that they provide both "roles" of a husband and wife. This bill does not support this argument.
3. Same sex couples cannot get married in Kentucky. There was a constitutional amendment passed several years ago keeping this from happening. This bill is the only way, without looking blatantly antagonistic, of keeping same sex couples from adopting children. If a heterosexual couple is cohabiting and decided they wanted to adopt a child, all they have to do is get married, job done, they can adopt. This is not an option for same sex couples... and from what I can tell, will not be ANYTIME soon. Therefore, this bill is clearly another move to discriminate and deprive the LGBT community from rights.
4. The bill will cause brain drain in Kentucky. Why would unmarried heterosexual and same sex couples want to stay in a state where they can't have a child via adoption? Imagine you have been in a same sex relationship for 15 or 20 years and you are at a point in your life where you are thinking about starting a family. Well, if you live in Kentucky, that's not an option with this bill. Therefore, if having a family is more important than where you live (and it is to many Americans) you may very well choose to leave the state. There is no plausible argument I can find where this would help the state (loss in taxpayer income, loss in human capital, etc).
5. What about the children... really! There are already over 7,000 of Kentucky's children in foster services, with 2,000 of them up for adoption. Should we REALLY limit the homes that could provide them with love and stability? That's what this bill would do... reduce the amount of homes a child could be living in and keeping them in state-run protective services.
6. According to the Williams Institute, this bill would cost the state over $5 million within the first year of its passage. This comes from less children being placed in foster and adoptive homes and being "stuck" with the state to take care of them. With Kentucky facing such huge economic crises, a failing education system and the health care system slowly dying... is this really what we need right now?
7. Kentucky continues to regress. Times have changed and we need to understand that to remain viable in America, we need to adapt to its needs. Kentucky continues to develop an image of intolerance and bigotry. This bill does not help that at all! Let's progress into a state that promises equal rights to all, promotes a healthy lifestyle where all citizens are welcomed and allows every voice to be heard without hesitation.
These are my arguments against Senate Bill 68. Unfortunately, they were not heard when the originating committee passed the legislation. I'm hoping, by having them on this page, they can be heard by someone who can carry the arguments and torch to stop this bill.
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