Church loses opt-out fight over gay adoptions (click here)
By George Jones, Political Editor
Last Updated: 1:07AM GMT 31/01/2007
Roman Catholic adoptions agencies yesterday lost their battle to opt out of new laws banning discrimination against homosexual couples when Tony Blair announced that there would be "no exemptions" for faith-based groups.
The Prime Minister said in a statement that the new rules would not come into force until the end of 2008. Until then there would be a "statutory duty" for religious agencies to refer gay couples to other agencies....
(3/27/2007)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: media@aclu.org
LITTLE ROCK, AR - The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas cheered the decision of the Arkansas House Judiciary Committee today to reject SB 959, a bill that would have banned gay people and most unmarried heterosexual couples who live together from adopting or serving as foster parents.
"Child welfare research and scientific evidence have shattered the myth that gay people are not suitable foster parents, and legislators hearing real stories from families who would have been hurt by this bill really brought it home," said Rita Sklar, Executive Director of the ACLU of Arkansas. "The Arkansas legislature realized this is bad policy as well as bad law."
Scores of people crowded into the House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Arkansas State Capitol to observe this morning's hearing. Among those who testified against the bill were:...
Can a Gay Couple ask for a genetically Pre-Deposed Gay Donor? Hm? Would heterosexual couples actually seek sperm donations from 'known' genetically proven heterosexual men? What does that say about them? Would they reject a naturally born gay child?
Artificial insemination: Donors in New South Wales could ban their sperm from going to lesbian couples under a new law expected to pass today (Reuters: Alessandro Bianchi)
The Greens have criticised moves to allow sperm and egg donors in New South Wales to nominate the type of people they want as potential recipients.
Under the new laws, expected to pass the Upper House today, donors can veto certain religious and ethnic groups, single women and lesbians.
The Bill is primarily aimed at allowing donor-conceived children to access information about their donor when they turn 18.
But Greens MP John Kaye says discrimination is not in the best interests of the child.
"By allowing sperm donors to choose the class of people they don't want their gametes to go to, this Bill institutionalises bigotry and prejudice," he said.
"It sends an appalling message that it's okay to discriminate on grounds that are completely irrelevant."...
