Senator Kirsten Gillibrand To Introduce 'Every Child Deserves A Family Act' (ECDF) LGBT Adoption Bill In US Senate

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has announced that she will introduce the "Every Child Deserves a Family Act" (ECDF) in the U.S. Senate reports FamilyEquality.org. The announcement comes just days before National Adoption Month which begins on November 1.

The bill, if passed, will eliminate state laws, policies, practices, and procedures that "exclude potential adoptive and foster parents because marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity."

The House version of this bill, introduced by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) in May of 2011, currently has bi-partisan support.

A press release sent out by Gillibrand's office notes that there are an estimated 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and more than 107,000 children waiting to be adopted. LGBT couples or individuals looking to adopt or become foster parents are discriminated against in more than 30 states.

Also from the press release:

"While most states permit single LGBT parents to adopt, many do not allow LGBT couples to adopt. Currently, five states prohibit same-sex couples from adopting (Utah, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina and Michigan). There are 6 states that ban same-sex parents from adopting their partner’s children. More than two dozen states remain silent on how prospective LGBT foster and adoptive parents should be treated.

A 2001 University of Los Angeles study showed that LGBT couples are just as 'fit, effective and successful as similar heterosexual parents.' There are two million LGBT people who have considered becoming adoptive or foster parents, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA. Currently 65,000 adopted children currently live with a gay or lesbian parent. In 2008, a Williams Institute study found that more than 10,500 same-sex couples are raising over 21,000 children in New York State."

Says Gillibrand: "New York is a leader on ensuring that any family can adopt children and sets a great example for the rest of the country. By removing all barriers for LGBT families to serve as foster parents, New York State has increased its foster parent pool by 128,000 prospective parents. This legislation would open thousands of new foster and adoptive homes to children ensuring they are raised in loving families."

Comments

[jonathan6773]

07:44 PM on 10/29/2011

We should have more senators like her.

[floridaviolinist]

08:00 PM on 10/30/2011

make sure you vote next year and maybe we will!!!

[Levelheaded Guy]

09:48 AM on 10/29/2011

I'm for anything that increases adoption, even by gay parents. We can hope that more women seeking abortion will consider having their baby and putting it up for adoption.

[Atwill]

07:55 AM on 10/29/2011

I hope this passes and all states are forced to follow it. the same as DOMA. it needs to die and all states forced to have gay marriage. screw this voting on civil rights We need to force it.

[SimonBao]

12:59 AM on 10/29/2011

And the key phrase is, "The bill, IF PASSED, will eliminate state laws..."

While it's a breakthrough for such a bill to be introduced in the US Congress, it's not going to pass.

Let's all be 100% frank and honest and realistic. Introducing this bill is a purely symbolic gesture. It's NOT going to pass. Not in THIS current Congress.

It could theoretically be re-introduced again in the next Congress that's sworn in after the 2012 election. And it could theoretically then pass, IF the Democrats retake the House and if the Democrats have a filibuster-proof hold on the Senate. And IF Obama is re-elected.

But like repeals of DOMA or other proposed LGBT-friendly legislation, this bill will be introduced and will not be passed. The GOP will not even let it come up for a vote.

[Brad Betschen]

10:39 PM on 10/28/2011

Kirsten has become one of my favorite politicians.

[rockysparks]

09:02 PM on 10/28/2011

As a father of seven kids --- biological, adopted and fostered --- I applaud Senator Gillibrand's introduction of this legislation. My children are responsible adults and have presented me with seven grandchildren. I believe gay parents can provide the same loving homes as our straight counterparts, and THAT is all that matters --- that children in need of parents not be limited in their access to loving parents, regardless of the parents' sexual orientation.

[Ms NYC]

08:29 PM on 10/28/2011

I love my senators.

[LelioRisen]

06:38 PM on 10/28/2011

I am so proud that she represents my state! Kirsten Gillibrand has become a heroic advocate for the glbt community in her brief time in office.

[LelioRisen]

06:39 PM on 10/28/2011

You have a fitting moniker. It is what I would like to use on your comment.

[pooperscoopertoo]

07:12 PM on 10/28/2011

Thank you. I use it to walk around and pick up the droppings all over this blog.

Be well my friend.

[EmmaDarian]

07:52 PM on 10/28/2011

You're right. The child does look happy.

You don't understand the science, though, and have misrepresented the therapy.

[cenourinha]

08:27 PM on 10/29/2011

Haven't seen you around for awhile...I'm glad to see you back

[lrobb]

05:03 PM on 10/28/2011

What part of the interstate commerce clause does she propose to cite as the rational for co-opting something which is patently the province of the states and not the federal government? Liberals seem to have a real problem with the 10th Amendment.

[slejames]

08:28 PM on 10/28/2011

Wrong part of the Constitution:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Protection_Clause

These laws violate the 14th amendment, the ICC has nothing to do with it.

[cenourinha]

08:35 PM on 10/29/2011

conservatives seem to have a problem with the 14th

[coloagnt]

04:56 PM on 10/28/2011

The Senate has become a total joke where absolutely nothing gets done as a result of the ridiculous abuse of the filibuster. Republicans are being petty with it as will democrats if/when they're ever in the minority. As a result of the filibuster the U.S. Senate has become totally irrelevant to governance, for the most part.

[LoyalBob]

02:49 PM on 10/28/2011

I love this woman! She is a shining light in the Senate amongst ideological dregs in the Republican party.

[Dirk1]

12:59 PM on 10/28/2011

Good for her.
There is absolutely nothing Christian about the haters who deny children a home in order to drive their anti-American agenda of marriage and family inequality.
If they really cared about children, they'd stop the Catholic priests who rape children.
If they really cared about marriage, they'd support our right to equality.
If they really cared about children, they'd support making us 100% equal (not privileged, equal) citizens.
In a week when we are confronted with that poor child in Ohio who not only was badly beaten and who is not even protected because Ohio laws explicitly saws it is OK to discriminate against us, this is a ray of hope.

[lacrosselamore]

01:48 PM on 10/28/2011

If they really cared about children they would be passing laws to forbid convicted child molesters and pornographers from marriing anyone with kids, Peadophiles can get married in all 50 States, as can convicted repists.

[rextrek]

04:44 PM on 10/28/2011

..and convicted murderers in JAIL for life can get married too

[Richbruin]

05:43 PM on 10/28/2011

Good luck getting this through. Your response is typical. Attack, call names and insult all the while proclaiming victimhood.....gimmee a break.