Topeka — Addressing the question of whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to adopt children in Kansas has been added to a legislative study committee's list of things to do.
Rep. Willa DeCastro, R-Wichita, said Friday she scheduled a hearing Sept. 14 of the Joint Committee on Children's Issues with adoption the only item set for discussion. Earlier this week, DeCastro said she wasn't planning for her committee to discuss the issue "anytime soon."
The panel will hear from staff about current adoption laws in Kansas, as well as from the Kansas Children's Service League, which is contracted by Social and Rehabilitation Services to handle adoptions of children in foster care.
DeCastro said her decision wasn't based on any pressure from House leadership or other legislators.
"I said from the onset ... that I would accommodate them," DeCastro said, referring to the leadership.
Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, asked legislative leaders last month to put adoption criteria on a list of topics to be studied before the Legislature begins Jan. 9. He believes adoption should be limited to homes with a mother and father.
His proposal has received criticism from gay and lesbian advocacy groups, and many lawmakers said they weren't eager to take on such an emotional issue.
State law is silent on whether gays or lesbians can adopt foster children. Unmarried couples can't adopt foster children jointly.
An unmarried individual can adopt a child and live with another person, but only the person who adopted would have legal custody.
Last year, 627 foster children were adopted in Kansas, and about half that number were placed in homes through private adoptions. SRS says the number of foster children averages about 4,500 per month, but it doesn't keep track of whether foster parents are gay or lesbian.
DeCastro said Huebert's issue wouldn't be the focus of the hearings, but she expected the topic would be discussed.
"My sense is that it's not maybe a major problem," DeCastro said.
She added that if interest was great enough in Huebert's proposal, there could be specific hearings next session.
"My goal is that every child in the foster program deserves a safe and secure home. If we can identify a home for them, then that is a good and workable solution for everyone," DeCastro said.
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merrill (anonymous) says…
Gays and Lesbians make fine parents simply because they are warm loving people like most all human beings. Not only that it is not good use of our tax dollars to incarcerate young people in foster homes when warm loving couples can provide them with stabililty and extended families. All couples have grandparents and other relatives who would share their warmth to help get these foster children grounded . A permanent loving home is heathier that never knowing where your next home may or may not be.
While in the military my preconcieved notions gathered through parents etc. about gay and lesbians was shattered.
One day out of the clear blue I received notice that I was to be interrogated. The investigators began questioning me about the personal "dating" activities of friends. The questions were odd to say the least and difficult for me to get a grasp on why such questions were being posed to me.
Finally I asked why are you asking me such strange questions? It was then the real question came out as they were investigating these men and women for homosexual activity. These were people with whom my lady friend and I socialized frequently. Honestly I had no idea and was stunned because these friends were no different than us in most every way imagineable. Not only were they our good friends but among the brightest and most dedicated to their
professions not to mention very well respected. All of the nonsense I grew up with proved to be nothing but lies.
hawk52 (anonymous) says…
Rep. Hueberts wants to deny 60%+ of the population from adoption and foster care while the privatized child welfare system is bulging at the seams. He wants to redefine "real families" as only people that are married. He would take the kids out of loving arms of parents, foster parents and put them in shelters. We don't need this kind of politics in KS. It is hateful. I bet Hueberts can't name one child that was put into foster care removed from his/her gay parents. Maybe they are the solution, not the problem.