Gay Advocates Assail McCain Over Adoptions

Republican Criticized For Comments Opposing Gay Adoptions; Later Says It's A State Issue

(AP)  Advocates for gay and lesbian parents are denouncing Sen. John McCain, an adoptive father himself, for opposing adoptions by gays, which prompted his presidential campaign to clarify Tuesday that he does not seek a federal ban on the practice.

Only one state, Florida, outlaws adoptions by gays, which have become commonplace in much of the nation.

The Republican nominee-in-waiting was asked for his views on the subject in an interview published Sunday in The New York Times.

"I think that we've proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don't believe in gay adoption," McCain replied.

McCain then remarked that he and his wife, Cindy, were proud to be adoptive parents of a daughter born in Bangladesh, and he encouraged others to adopt. Asked if those adopting should be a "traditional couple," McCain answered, "Yes."

The responses were condemned by gay and lesbian groups.

"He's completely out of touch," said Kara Suffredini, public policy director for the Family Equality Council. "There's no reason, except for the sake of red meat for his base, to throw up screens in the way of children in foster care getting homes."

Jody Huckaby, executive director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said McCain's comments were especially dismaying because more than 100,000 children are in foster care waiting to be adopted.

"Sen. McCain would deny loving homes to children who desperately need them simply because of an outdated prejudice about what a family may look like," Huckaby said.

On Tuesday, as criticism of McCain's comments spread, his campaign elaborated on the candidate's views.

"John McCain could have been clearer in the interview in stating that his position on gay adoption is that it is a state issue. ... He was not endorsing any federal legislation," a campaign statement said.

"Sen. McCain's expressed his personal preference for children to be raised by a mother and a father wherever possible," the statement added. "However, as an adoptive father himself, McCain believes children deserve loving and caring home environments, and he recognizes that there are many abandoned children who have yet to find homes. John McCain believes that in those situations that caring parental figures are better for the child than the alternative."

An estimated 65,000 children have been adopted by gays and lesbians, according to advocacy groups. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers, among other groups, have expressed support for gay adoptions.

"It is an insult to these professionals and the children whom they represent to suggest that the door should be closed to people other than a 'traditional' married couple," said Ellen Kahn, who coordinates family-related projects for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group.

Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, said McCain "needs to read the research and rethink his comments."

"His implication is that every adopted child should have a mother and father," Pertman added. "That may be the ideal, but if we stick to it, we would have far fewer homes for kids. Single people - gay and straight - represent a significant number of adoptive parents."

States have widely varying laws regarding adoption by same-sex couples, but only Florida has a law explicitly banning gays and lesbians from adopting as individuals.

Conservative activists in Arkansas have been working to get a similar ban on the ballot in November, but have struggled to generate public support. Earlier this month, they turned in a petition with 65,899 signatures - only slightly more than the required number and well under the initial goal of 100,000 signatures.

Recent national polls suggest that support for the concept of gay adoption is growing. A 2006 poll by the Pew Research Center found a near-even split on the issue; a 2007 poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp. said 57 percent of respondents felt gays should have the right to adopt, while 40 percent said they shouldn't.

A gay adoptive father in Atlanta, Ken Manford, said he and his partner have felt strong support and acceptance from neighbors and acquaintances since they adopted a son from Guatemala nearly seven years ago.

"If Sen. McCain came and sat down with us, I'd tell him we've proven that both parents are important in our family," Manford said. "It doesn't matter that both those parents are men."

McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, supports adoption rights for gays and lesbians.

[kansas1946]

All of you guys again cannot be right. There is truth. One has to want it.


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Posted by truthislife1 at 02:48 AM : Jul 16, 2008
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OK. Here is the truth. Children thrive, grow, and, bloom, in a household filled with love.

[medmom04]

Avigil2, thank you. exactly. and thank goodness for those children who escaped a dangerous home environment who then found their way into a loving home, regardless of the demographics within the new household.

[avigil2]

Kara Suffredini, the public policy director for the Family Equality Council simply said it right, "He''s (McCain) completely out of touch". Families these days come in all forms, married or divorced, couple or single, and yes, gay or straight. Get with the times people! We aren''t living in biblical times anymore. I wish we Americans would catch up with the rest of the world on what''s important.

[medmom04]

It is an insult to people who hold that this is an outright breach of moral and biological standards that have been the guide to our society and other civilize society in this world for more than 2000 years.
********
This is a very inaccurate statement. Ancient civilizations celebrated those who fell outside of the majority, including with sexual preference. In fact, in some cultures, on this very continent, the homosexual population was exhalted to shaman status. So, no, absolutely not, the prejudices and cruelty that exists today towards someone different than yourself has not been the ''civilized'' way to be!

[truthislife1]

All of you guys again cannot be right. There is truth. One has to want it.

[krotec54]

It is an insult to people who hold that this is an outright breach of moral and biological standards that have been the guide to our society and other civilize society in this world for more than 2000 years.

[ivandrago]

Ever hear of a poor gay couple? Right. They don''t really exist. Any adopted kid would be fortunate to get a gay couple to adopt them.

[hungry1968]

NO adoption by queers. How sick can our society get if it tolerates this kind of garbage. What is going on that we have to have this kind of perversion crammed down our throats on a daily basis. Isn''''t it enough that they can legally live here? HOw much more do we have to take. Now they want to adopt innocent children and turn them into queers too. Utterly disgusting.

Posted by drivelphobe at 12:46 AM : Jul 16, 2008





Who is cramming anything down your throat? And what bizarre form of republicanism makes you think that a gay couple will raise their child to be gay?


Maybe you should move to Iran to be with your own kind - Ahmadinejhad says they don''t have any g`a`y`s there. it sounds PERFECTLY like your kind of place.

[hungry1968]

You are the one who made the comparison....not me. What, you can''''t back up your own words? Typical liberal.....when the air goes out of their argument, they misquote somebody to save themselves.

Posted by noseonurface at 11:52 PM : Jul 15, 2008




Misquoted?

I mention ''Islam'' and YOU said, and I quote: "Oh,yea, right! I''''m just itching to blow myself up on the playground screaming Allah is great."

YOU ARE the intolerant BIGOT, making the claim that EVERY Islamic is a suicide bombing, radical terrorist - NOT ME!!! And there was NO miquote about it!!

What''s wrong alleged christian? No room in your religion for peace, love and tolerance?

LOL!!!

[dmhphils]

You christians take the cake!!! Your bigotry and intolerance makes radical Islam look like kids on a playground!!!


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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:39 PM : Jul 15, 2008

You are the one who made the comparison....not me. What, you can''t back up your own words? Typical liberal.....when the air goes out of their argument, they misquote somebody to save themselves.

[dmhphils]

n So, why would you be supporting McCain?


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Posted by kansas1946 at 11:43 PM : Jul 15, 20

If there was just this one issue, it would be enough to vote for McCain.....verses a liberal, who btw calls hiimself a "Christian", but doesn''t have the backbone to stand up and say Homosexuality is wrong, wrong, wrong....as opposed to right!

[hungry1968]

Oh,yea, right! I''''m just itching to blow myself up on the playground screaming Allah is great....right....

Your comments have the twing of irrationality.....and yes, I made up the word "twing"....there are just no words to describe the stupidity of your statement. Are you blind, or what.??

Posted by noseonurface at 11:45 PM : Jul 15, 2008





LOL!!!

PERFECTLY in line with radical christianity!! I mention ''Islam'', and you mention "blow myself up on the playground screaming Allah is great"!! How bigoted and intolerant is that!!


Do you have a different cross for burning on the sand-ni88ers lawns, than you do for burning on the regular ni88ers lawns?


No - I''m not blind. I see through your alleged "religion", very, very clearly.

[hungry1968]

CORRECTION:



And his plane, NOW, isn''''t any better. "Preferred" reporters get "front row seats" on his plane to get "closer" to the candidate. The other REPORTERS give each other a hard time about being in the front of the plane!!!

Posted by hungry1968 at 11:44 PM : Jul 15, 2008

[dmhphils]

This from a bigoted, intolerant, a$$hole, that won''''t vote for Obama because he''''s black or a secret muslim!!


LOL!!!

You christians take the cake!!! Your bigotry and intolerance makes radical Islam look like kids on a playground!!!

Oh,yea, right! I''m just itching to blow myself up on the playground screaming Allah is great....right....

Your comments have the twing of irrationality.....and yes, I made up the word "twing"....there are just no words to describe the stupidity of your statement. Are you blind, or what.??

[hungry1968]

Straight Talk Express...my a**

Posted by kansas1946 at 11:40 PM : Jul 15, 2008




His alleged "Straight Talk Express", lost all it''s wheels, blew the motor, and dropped the tranny after the 2000 campaign!!!

And his plane, NOW, isn''t any better. "Preferred" reporters get "front row seats" on his plane to get "closer" to the candidate. The other candidates give each other a hard time about being in the front of the plane!!!


LOL!!!!

[kansas1946]

I see more hatred coming from liberals like you against those who have the foundation of God''''s Word in their lives, than I do from those who are Christians, that you are calling bigots. Your words are bitter and hateful toward those who profess the reality of a morality initiated by God Himself, the Creator.

So drop the masquerade.....you are one of those people you are criticizing.


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Posted by noseonurface at 11:27 PM : Jul 15, 2008
*******************************

So, why would you be supporting McCain?

[kansas1946]

I see McCain is pulling his usual, stuttering and flip-flopping on this issue. Stutter..stutter...flip-flop...
Well, no I don''t support it..
Well, no, I don''t want to ban it..
Well.....flip...flop...

Straight Talk Express...my a**

[hungry1968]

Your words are bitter and hateful toward those who profess the reality of a morality initiated by God Himself, the Creator.

Posted by noseonurface at 11:27 PM : Jul 15, 2008





This from a bigoted, intolerant, a$$hole, that won''t vote for Obama because he''s black or a secret muslim!!


LOL!!!

You christians take the cake!!! Your bigotry and intolerance makes radical Islam look like kids on a playground!!!

[dmhphils]

PLEASE -- take it easy on me next time!!! You''''re MUCH too intellectually superior to me - I can''''t keep up!!
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:24 PM : Jul 15, 2008

Hey, if you can''t take the heat.....ya know? But I do accept your surrender.

[dmhphils]

Choosing to hate people based on the color of their skin, the God they pray to, their handicaps, the gender they chose to love, etc.,

Posted by informedone1 at 11:17 PM : Jul 15, 2008

I see more hatred coming from liberals like you against those who have the foundation of God''s Word in their lives, than I do from those who are Christians, that you are calling bigots. Your words are bitter and hateful toward those who profess the reality of a morality initiated by God Himself, the Creator.

So drop the masquerade.....you are one of those people you are criticizing.