Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, March 24, 2006 Page: 23 of 56
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Banning gay adoptions proves
to be more difficult challenge
Proposed Ohio legislation banning adoptions in homes where any gay
people reside would prevent Vice President Cheney from adopting
Following their successful
attempts to ban gay marriage
across the country, social conser-
vatives are now trying to ban
gays from adopting children.
In the case of both bans, it's
tiring for gay folks to be vilified
for, of all things, wanting to give
love. By this logic, Mother
Teresa should've been strung up
by her sandals.
At present, it appears barring
gay adoption isn't going as
swimmingly as barring gay mar-
riage, thank goodness. As this
fight unfolds, and all manner of things are said
about us, I'm pleased to note that gays and our
allies have held onto something important: the
ability to wrest giggles from a bad situation.
Let's consider Ohio.
Ah, Ohio, where, in 2004, a particularly stri-
dent anti-gay marriage amendment helped
George Bush capture the state, and thus the
nation.
Ah, Ohio, where last month Representative
Ron Hood introduced in the House a bill forbid-
ding an adoptive or foster child from being
placed with an LGBT person.
Also, no adoptive or foster child could be
placed in a household where an LGBT person
lives.
When it comes to bigotry, these Buckeyes are
not namby-pamby.
Scott Greenwood of Cincinnati, an openly gay
civil rights attorney, had a few words to say about
this bill to Ohio's Gay People's Chronicle:
"Under this legislation, Dick Cheney and his
wife would be prevented from adopting," he said,
referring to the Cheneys' lesbian daughter.
"Maybe that's a good thing for other reasons, but
not this reason."
Scott, you accurate devil.
And if I may pick up the thread from here,
Ohio, with its penchant for extreme legislation,
might consider banning the vice president from
hunting within its borders. That way there will be
no birdshot or buckshot in Buckeyes.
This adoption bill is too much even for some
Ohio Republicans. GOP House Speaker Jon
Leslie Robinson
General Gayety
Hustad, himself adopted as a
child, is against it.
But let's not underestimate the
fear generated by spouting false-
hoods. In backing his ban, Hood
claimed, among other things, that
kids raised by gay parents are at
"increased risk" of physical and
emotional problems.
Enter Senator Robert Hagan,
who has proposed additional leg-
islation. In an e-mail sent to fel-
low senators, the Democrat said
he's seeking co-sponsors to intro-
duce a bill "that would ban house-
holds with one or more Republican voters from
adopting children or acting as foster parents."
He wrote, ''Credible research exists that
strongly suggests that adopted children raised in
Republican households, though significantly
wealthier than their Democrat-raised counter-
parts, are more at risk for developing emotional
problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, an alarm-
ing lack of tolerance for others they deem differ-
ent than themselves and an air of overconfidence
to mask their insecurities."
Hagan added, "I have spoken to many adopt-
ed children raised in Republican households who
have admitted that 'Well, it's just plain boring
most of the time."'
He's joking to make a point. Alas, Hood isn't
joking.
And while it's tempting to dismiss Hood him-
self as a joke, we don't dare. Not anymore.
Hustad responded to Hagan's memo by noting
that his adoptive parents were Democrats.
"I got to go to the secret meetings when I was
growing up. That's how I knew they were going
to tax me and take away my Second Amendment
rights. That's why I became a Republican."
The way I figure it, joshing between parties is
good. At least it means they're speaking.
Mainly, I'm pleased my side is mining humor
from rough legislative circumstances. When
things get particularly nasty, it helps to keep your
wits about you.
Leslie Robinson's columns are available
online at www.GeneralGayety.com
E-mail LesRobinsn@aol,com
You have the right
to one mother and
one father.
If your parents do
not include both
mother and a father,
one may he
appointed £or you
hy a court of law.
Do you
understand?
ft
letters
Bush may avoid Nixon's fate
With his approval rating below 40 percent in
most national polls, the president, under the aus-
pices of "executive privilege," refused to turn
over information regarding his alleged illegal
spying and wiretapping programs to the Senate
Investigative Committee.
Earlier in the investigation into the illegal spy-
ing allegations, Democrats requested that the
attorney general initiate an investigation. He
refused.
The White House press secretary cited the
ongoing war and concerns over the dangerous
world in which we live as justifications for
administration's claim of secrecy and executive
privilege.
In the coming year, this incident caused the
resignation of the president, the first time that has
happened in our history.
This was the resignation of President Richard
Nixon following the Watergate scandal.
There are many comparisons between this bit
of history and the highly-questionable spying
program of President Bush. Bush, like Nixon,
claimed to be a compassionate conservative.
Both presidents were accused of conducting ille-
gal spying and wiretapping programs during
their second terms. Both presidents were "war
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presidents," and both used that as a defense for
many of their actions.
But alas, there is a difference between now
and the simpler times of 1973. In 1973, the
Congress actually felt compelled to do their duty.
Today, Republican Senator Pat Roberts of
Kansas has decided that the solution is to draft
legislation that will make the illegal part of
Bush's spying program legal, and therefore
eliminating any need to investigate.
It was a simpler time in 1973. There were
some men of principle and integrity that sought
out the truth and found the courage to prosecute
those that chose to shame our Constitution.
George W. Bush and his spy campaign should
be investigated with the full authority of
Congress. To do otherwise is to condone mis-
deeds and promote a monarchy
Jim Ridout
Albuquerque j N.M.
44
"if they have a mental picture of hot
cowboys and cowgirls being
here in Dallas, we don't
want to disappoint
them."
Michael Dpughman, executive
director of the Dallas Tavern
.Guild about the tJLBT Press
Tour schedule of activities
55
44
"The Dallas Steering Committee is an
outstanding model in the level of
activity and structure they have.
They contribute at every level for us."
Susanne Salkind, managing
director Of the Human Rights
Campaign, in the
importance of the Dallas
Steer i tig-Coon mittee
55
44
"I think if the Democrats in this
general election can articulate a
message, a real strategy for positive
change, that's what the voters
want to see."
Bayless Camp, former president of Stonewall
Democrats of Tarrant County, on Democrats
chances of defeating -Republican incumbents
55
44
"Our teaching on marriage and
family life precludes these
kinds of adoptions."
Maurice Healy, spokesman for the Catholic
APOhdiocese of San Francisco, on plans for the
archdiocese to stop allowing same-sex couples to
adopt through their agencies
55
03.24.06 I dallas voice I 23
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Vercher, Dennis. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, March 24, 2006, newspaper, March 24, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238901/m1/23/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.