Following
their successful attempts to ban gay marriage across the country, social
conservatives are now trying to ban gays from adopting children.
In the case of both bans, it’s wearying 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 marriage, thank goodness. As this fight unfolds, and all
manner of things are said about us, I’m pleased to note that gays
and 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 strident
anti-gay marriage amendment helped George Bush capture the state and thus
the nation. Ah, Ohio, where last month Rep. Ron Hood introduced in the
House a bill forbidding 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.
Openly gay civil rights attorney Scott Greenwood of Cincinnati 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 Hustad, adopted as a child, is against it. But let’s
not underestimate the fear generated by spouting falsehoods. In backing
his ban, Rep. Hood claimed, among other things, that kids raised by gay
parents are at “increased risk” of physical and emotional problems.
Enter state Sen. Robert Hagan, who has proposed additional legislation.
In an email sent to fellow senators, the Democrat said he’s seeking
co-sponsors to introduce a bill “that would ban households with one
or more Republican voters from adopting children or acting as foster parents.”
Both PlanetOut Network and 365Gay.com ran stories on Hagan’s proposal
and was I glad because the hits just kept on coming.
He wrote, “Credible research exists that strongly suggests that adopted
children raised in Republican households, though significantly wealthier
than their Democrat-raised counterparts, are more at risk for developing
emotional problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, an alarming lack of
tolerance for others they deem different than themselves and an air of
overconfidence to mask their insecurities.”
He added, “I have spoken to many adopted 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, Rep. Hood isn’t joking.
And while it’s tempting to dismiss Hood himself as a joke, we don’t
dare. Not anymore.
Republican House Speaker Husted responded to Sen. Hagan’s memo. Husted
noted 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. |
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