Gillibrand Bill Would Prevent Anti-LGBT Adoption Bias
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing legislation to remove legal barriers to adoption by lesbian, gay and transgender parents.
Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, said Sunday she will introduce legislation this week that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT adoptive parents.
The Every Child Deserves a Family Act would prohibit any entity that receives federal funds from discriminating against adoptive or foster parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
Gillibrand Bill Would Prevent Anti-LGBT Adoption Bias
New York is one of seven states that explicitly ban discrimination in adoption based on sexual orientation.
Louisiana, Mississippi and Michigan prohibit same-sex couples from jointly adopting.
Four other states restrict same-sex couples from using the second-parent adoption process.
Gillibrand says the absence of a consistent national policy prevents thousands of children from growing up with devoted parents.
The senator said 23,000 foster kids with "age out" before finding a permanent home.
Steve Milliken attended Gillibrand's news conference Sunday with his partner, Carsen.
"You finally find the courage to pick up the phone and being calling these agencies, only to be told they don't work with people like you, or sinners like you," he told reporters, including WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola. "Now imagine the heartache that follows when you learn that your tax dollars supported these same organizations."
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