May 8, 2000

7:38 PM

Should same-sex couples be banned from adopting children? Last week, Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove signed legislation banning gay and lesbian couples from adopting children. The new law takes effect July 1, and three other states already have similar restrictions.
posted by veruca (9 comments total)

Hmm. I can't imagine it's much better these days.

"Over half the divorces in the state [Mississippi] involve parents of minor children. In the last nine years [1995], more than 100,000 children have been directly affected by divorce. This, of course, does not begin to include all the children (and adults) who are indirectly affected."

Priorities.

Idiots.
posted by treebjen at 10:25 PM on May 8, 2000

It's good to know that when unmarried women give their babies up for adoption, instead of having abortions, the religious right is upholding their end of the bargain. By making sure that the maximum number of parents are considered, they help ensure that the kids end up in a loving, nurturing home.

Oh, wait.
posted by snarkout at 12:47 AM on May 9, 2000

It's good to know that when unmarried women give their babies up for adoption, instead of having abortions, the religious right is upholding their end of the bargain. By making sure that the maximum number of parents are considered, they help ensure that the kids end up in a loving, nurturing home.

Oh, wait.
posted by snarkout at 12:47 AM on May 9, 2000

God has clearly cursed me with a spastic index finger as punishment for mocking His chosen people, conservative Southern Protestants. Sorry. I'm just glad that it wasn't worse; I could have been eaten by a bear or something.
posted by snarkout at 12:54 AM on May 9, 2000

Did you notice the vote links? Very misleading. The "vote against" button was a green "Yes!" and the "vote for" button was red "No!."
posted by Dean_Paxton at 3:33 AM on May 9, 2000

What do we expect from a governor who goes by "Ronnie" in his official duties.

I'm waiting for Governor Billy Bob.

No, not Thornton; he's busy now.
posted by baylink at 6:34 AM on May 9, 2000

Hey! My dad's name is Ronnie. My mom's from the same town as Billy Bob Thornton.

You hurt my feelings!
posted by daveadams at 7:07 AM on May 9, 2000

I'm from Mississippi. My high school principal was named Bobby Jones. Not Robert Jones, Bobby Jones. He was a pretty nice guy, but it's hard to take someone called "Dr. Bobby P. Jones" seriously. (It didn't help matters that he was a dead ringer for Fred Flintstone, either.) He did earn a lot of respect in the community and in the school, though.

As an aside, it always irritates me how quick people are to jump on Mississippi. This is a repellent law, but it appears as though people weren't so quick to complain until such a law was passed in a state that everyone loves to hate. As the original post states, Mississippi is the fourth state to pass such a ban.
posted by harmful at 7:27 AM on May 9, 2000

For the other side of the story, twenty-one states explicitly permit same-sex couples to adopt, mainly by court ruling. Interestingly, there is a clear and explicit discrimination against unmarried heterosexual couples, although unmarried individuals may adopt (usually intended for transfer of custody to a relative). Since same-sex couples cannot marry, they are also subject to this discrimination.
posted by dhartung at 8:19 AM on May 9, 2000