Gay Adoption in California

Subj: URGENT ACTION NEEDE TO KEEP GAY ADOPTION IN CALIF.
Date: 96-08-22 22:11:21 EDT
From: glpcinat@ix.netcom.com (Jim Fagelson)

Dear friends of the Gay and Lesbian Parents Coalition,

Gov. Wilson (R-CA) is proposing to make it illegal for any unmarried couple to adopt. 'Second-parent' adoptions, which are routinely approved in many California counties (and in 16 other States) for gay and lesbian couples, would be banned. It would also be much harder for single people to adopt. The new regulations would require the Department of Social Services to consider marital status as part of the adoption process.

The paperwork talks of the importance of promoting adoptions to married couples, the interests of society in making sure that happens, the [heterosexual] family as the foundation of a child's identity and that a child's interests are best served by a family that has both two parents and male and female role models. The explanation argues that 'married couples provide this family environment and the stability associated with the commitment of marriage.' While never mentioning sexual orientation or the words 'gay' or 'lesbian', it's clear who's being targeted.

This has happened so quietly that even the county directors of DSS are unaware of it. Once briefed on it, some will plan to oppose it. Let's help them as much as we can. Please inform our heterosexual allies and professionals who can testify as to their years of experience with children and families.

>Make use of all your contacts and get the word out!

What Pete Wilson wants is for no one to know this is happening. Don't let him get away with it.

For the journalists on this list, I don't know if this has made the news, but I haven't seen anything on the wires. Sounds like a pretty good story to me.

Jennifer Levinson offers to provide a copy of the text of the proposed changes to anyone interested. Her phone number is (415) 321-2361, fax (415) 321-2362, email jmlevinson@aol.com. She also can help you find gay and lesbian parents to interview. The letter from DSS she enclosed was signed by Lawrence B. Bolton, deputy director. Another good contact on this issue is the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, which pioneered second-parent adoptions. Also contact COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gay Everywhere) at 415-861-KIDS, fax 415-255-8345 to get the perspective of the children being raised by gay and lesbian parents and Tim Fisher, Executive Director of GLPCI at 201-783-6204 voice and fax.

For the rest of you, the address to send statements or arguments in response to the proposal is:

Frank R. Vitulli, California Department of Social Services
Office of Regulations Development
744 P St., MS 7-192
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax +1 916 654-3286
Phone +1 916 657-2586

The deadline for statements to be received is 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.

There will be public hearings at 10 a.m. Sept. 3 in San Jose, Sept. 4 in Sacramento and Sept. 5 in Santa Ana. The San Jose one will be in an auditorium at San Jose State, 100 Paseo de San Antonio.

Finally, feel free to forward this message to all your contacts.

Thanks,

Jim Fagelson
Executive Vice President
GLPCI