LadyG
Shattered
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- Feb 17, 2002
- Posts
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I had to check the year on this, but damn, it's 2005. Go figure 
Texas Bill Would Ban Gay Foster Parents
Wed Apr 20, 8:12 AM ET U.S. National - AP
By NATALIE GOTT, Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN, Texas - The state House tentatively approved legislation that would prohibit homosexuals and bisexuals from becoming foster parents.
Legislators voted 81-58 Tuesday to approve the ban in an amendment tacked on to a bill that would revamp the state's Child Protective Services agency. The full bill was tentatively approved 126-16. Final approval was expected Wednesday.
"It is our responsibility to make sure that we protect our most vulnerable children and I don't think we are doing that if we allow a foster parent that is homosexual or bisexual," said Rep. Robert Talton, a Republican, who introduced the amendment.
The state Senate has passed its own version of Child Protective Services reform that does not include the ban on gay foster parents.
Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, said the House measure would mean the exclusion of people who could be good foster parents to children who need of them.
"Mr. Talton has taken aim at the (gay and lesbian) community of Texas and thousands of children are now caught in the cross hairs," he said.
The bill also would spin off some of Child Protective Services' duties to the private sector, including foster care and case management. Private agencies already manage 75 percent of foster homes in Texas, and the state handles the rest. The bill would turn all of those functions over to private agencies.
It follows recent high-profile cases of child homicides that happened after agency caseworkers had investigated possible neglect or abuse and decided the children were safe to remain with their parents.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=/ap/20050420/ap_on_re_us/gays_foster_parents
Texas Bill Would Ban Gay Foster Parents
Wed Apr 20, 8:12 AM ET U.S. National - AP
By NATALIE GOTT, Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN, Texas - The state House tentatively approved legislation that would prohibit homosexuals and bisexuals from becoming foster parents.
Legislators voted 81-58 Tuesday to approve the ban in an amendment tacked on to a bill that would revamp the state's Child Protective Services agency. The full bill was tentatively approved 126-16. Final approval was expected Wednesday.
"It is our responsibility to make sure that we protect our most vulnerable children and I don't think we are doing that if we allow a foster parent that is homosexual or bisexual," said Rep. Robert Talton, a Republican, who introduced the amendment.
The state Senate has passed its own version of Child Protective Services reform that does not include the ban on gay foster parents.
Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, said the House measure would mean the exclusion of people who could be good foster parents to children who need of them.
"Mr. Talton has taken aim at the (gay and lesbian) community of Texas and thousands of children are now caught in the cross hairs," he said.
The bill also would spin off some of Child Protective Services' duties to the private sector, including foster care and case management. Private agencies already manage 75 percent of foster homes in Texas, and the state handles the rest. The bill would turn all of those functions over to private agencies.
It follows recent high-profile cases of child homicides that happened after agency caseworkers had investigated possible neglect or abuse and decided the children were safe to remain with their parents.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=/ap/20050420/ap_on_re_us/gays_foster_parents
It was a generalized statement!
