Matt Barber: Kids In Gay Families Are Just Props To Promote Sexual Anarchy

NOM Denounces What Would You Do?

NOM isn't very happy with this week's edition of ABC's What Would You Do?, which showed Texas diner patrons coming to the defense of a two-mom family.

We can expect a lot more of this from the MSM. Let's note first of all that the behavior of the "waitress" in this setup up is outrageous. No boss, and no customers would tolerate it. Not even in the "conservative" towns of Texas. Good news for American common sense. The insidious propaganda point from ABC News is the suggestion that millions of good Americans who believe marriage means a man and a woman because children ought to have moms and dads, would or are behaving like this. Shame on ABC. Be prepared for lot more prejudiced stereotyping of decent and honorable Americans down the road by powerful elites.

ABC's What Would You Do? Tackles Homophobia Towards Gay Families

Even though the set-up took place in Texas, things definitely don't happen the way some might expect. Get a tissue.

(Tipped by JMG reader Gavin)

Happy Mother's Day From Zach Wahls

Two Gay Dads, Twelve Adopted Kids

Go read this amazing story from the Arizona Republic.

Heather Knows Punctuation

From the New Yorker. Tipped by JMG reader Sean.

Mike Huckabee: I Hate Everything In The Entire World To Do With Gay People

In so many words...

FLORIDA: House GOP Speaker Seeks To Enforce Gay Adoption Ban

Even though district courts have overturned Florida's ban on gay adoption, state House GOP Speaker Dean Cannon wants Gov. Rick Scott to enforce the ban still on the state books.

Cannon said the Legislature may reassert its position affirming the prohibition if that becomes necessary, but is awaiting word whether the Scott administration will continue to enforce the ban. “The tactical calculus is to make a change [in the law] would almost imply that you agree that there was some flaw identified by the Third DCA,” Cannon said of the Legislature’s options after the Third District Court of Appeal overturned the law last year. “Because that’s just in one district, it may make sense to wait and see if that Third DCA opinion is eventually brought up with another case and either overturned or affirmed by the Supreme Court,” he said. “Until we know how the governor and DCF secretary are going to apply it, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the Legislature should step in,” he said. “If we think we should, we’re certainly prepared and willing to do so.” Asked if the governor should enforce the law, Cannon replied, “Absolutely.”

Earlier this month Tea Party-backed Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott tipped his hand on gay adoption when he appointed an anti-gay adoption activist to head Florida's Department of Children and Families.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

More Gays Raise Kids In The South

According to a study of data released by the U.S. Census, there are more gay couples raising children in the southern states than in urban states more traditionally considered to be gay hot spots.

Child rearing among same-sex couples is more common in the South than in any other region of the country, according to Gary Gates, a demographer at the University of California, Los Angeles. Gay couples in Southern states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are more likely to be raising children than their counterparts on the West Coast, in New York and in New England. The pattern, identified by Mr. Gates, is also notable because the families in this region defy the stereotype of a mainstream gay America that is white, affluent, urban and living in the Northeast or on the West Coast.

One theory for the result is that southern blacks and Latinos may be more likely to have been in a heterosexual marriage with children prior to coming out.

FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott Appoints "Christians Only" Activist To Head State Agency On Adoptions

Florida Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott has appointed Christian activist David Wilkins to head the state Department of Children and Families, which is in charge of adoptions. Wilkins is the former head of a Baptist adoption agency which states that only "professed Christians" are eligible for consideration as parents. Gay rights groups are concerned that Scott's move signals an intent to overturn the recent advances for gay families in Florida. The Miami Herald reports:

Some children's advocates find Wilkins' ties to fundamentalist religious groups unsettling, particularly coming only months after a Miami appeals court declared unconstitutional a Florida law -- the only one of its kind in the U.S. -- that banned adoption by gay men and lesbians. Both Sheldon and then-Attorney General Bill McCollum chose not to appeal the Third District Court of Appeal's ruling to the Florida Supreme Court, saying the decision held sway throughout the state. Sheldon ordered his leadership team to cease enforcing the ban. But Wilkins and Scott could challenge the Miami ruling by refusing to allow a gay man or woman to adopt elsewhere in the state -- which could trigger an appeal to the state's highest court. On its website, the Baptist Children's Home says that "in order to adopt through the Florida Baptist Children's Homes we require that you be a professing Christian, be active in a local Christian church, and follow a lifestyle that is consistent with the Christian faith.'' Howard Simon, head of of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which represented Martin Gill in his successful challenge to the law banning gays and lesbians from adopting, said, ``we're certainly concerned about whether this might mean the state might try to undo our historic adoption victory."

RELATED: Today Florida parent Martin Gill and his partner were able to finally officially adopt their two foster sons. It was Gill's ACLU-backed lawsuit that overturned Florida's ban on gay adoption.

Elton And David And Son

Elton John and David Furnish give the world its first look of their newborn son via OK Magazine today.

When asked who Zachary's biological father is, Furnish replied: 'We both contributed. For the time being we don't have a clue. We look at him every day and at the moment he has Elton's nose and my hands. 'Neither of us care. He's our child. The important thing is that he's healthy and happy and loved.' Elton also said he and Furnish are both determined to be as 'hands on' as possible with Zachary. He added: 'I feed him. David feeds him. We change his nappies. I mean, it's hands on! We are on nappy patrol.'

Gay Parenting Study Reports Zero Cases Of Abuse By Lesbian Moms

The Williams Institute today reported (PDF) that a small study of the adolescent children of lesbian mothers showed no reported incidents of abuse by either their parents or another caregiver.

The paper finds that none of the 78 NLLFS adolescents report having ever been physically or sexually abused by a parent or other caregiver. This contrasts with 26% of American adolescents who report parent or caregiver physical abuse and 8.3% who report sexual abuse. According to the authors, "the absence of child abuse in lesbian mother families is particularly noteworthy, because victimization of children is pervasive and its consequences can be devastating. To the extent that our findings are replicated by other researchers, these reports from adolescents with lesbian mothers have implications for healthcare professionals, policymakers, social service agencies, and child protection experts who seek family models in which violence does not occur." On sexual orientation, 2.8% of the NLLFS adolescents identified as predominantly to exclusively homosexual.

The Williams Institute is part of the UCLA School of Law and has been tracking lesbian-headed families for 24 years. Read their complete study. (PDF)

Florida AG Bill McCollum: I Won't Be Appealing Overturn Of Adoption Ban

He let the clock run down to the wire, but Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that he won't be appealing the recent overturn on gay adoption. McCollum had until 5pm today to file his appeal and still gets manages to get in an anti-gay shot with his statement.

"The constitutionality of the Florida law banning adoption by homosexuals is a divisive matter of great public interest. As such, the final determination should rest with the Florida Supreme Court, not a lower appellate court. But after reviewing the merits of independently seeking Supreme Court review, following the decision of our client the Department of Children and Families not to appeal the decision of the Third District Court of Appeal, it is clear that this is not the right case to take to the Supreme Court for its determination. No doubt someday a more suitable case will give the Supreme Court the opportunity to uphold the constitutionality of this law."

RELATED: McCollum's candidacy for governor of Florida was severely damaged by the revelation that he'd paid male prostitute patron Dr. George Rekers over $130,000 to testify in the above-cited case. Teabagger and Medicare fraudster Rick Scott ended up winning the GOP nomination.

Tweet Of The Day - Neil Patrick Harris

(Via - Good As You)

Rand Paul: Abolish The DOE Because They Might Teach About Gay Families

Opening January 2011 - The Right To Love: An American Family

Facebook page here.

Bill McCullom: George Rekers Was The Best Anti-Gay "Expert" We Could Find

Florida AG Bill McCullom still opposes gay adoption, despite his $120,000 payment to George Rekers turning into a national laughing-stock. "I don't believe the gay family model is good for the kids."

Photo Of The Day

Nadine Smith of Equality Florida handed the president a photo during Tuesday's LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House. The accompanying letter read:

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for the invitation to join you for the White House LGBT Pride Reception. On behalf of the 131,000 households that support the work of Equality Florida and all fair-minded Americans I ask you to please lend your voice to ending a law that literally tears families apart. Every Wednesday for almost a year these two boys wonder if the court will decide to let them be adopted by their foster dad of over 5 years or whether they will be torn from their home and likely separated. Florida is the only state with a statute that specifically bans gay people from adopting but already anti-gay groups are preparing to launch a ballot measure to make this devastating discrimination part of the state constitution. We must end this now in Florida or we will see it on the ballot state after state.

Sincerely
Nadine Smith
Executive Director
Equality Florida

Tomorrow At 8PM: CNN's Gary & Tony Have A Baby

Last week Father Tony and I attended a preview screening of CNN's gay parenting documentary Gary & Tony Have A Baby, which follows New Yorkers Gary Spino and Tony Brown from finding an egg donor, to hiring a surrogate mother, to the eventual birth of their son. The couple's journey is expensive and trying, but ultimately quite sweet, even if it's a route that few gay couples could ever afford.

The film is part of CNN's Gay In America series and last week's screening was co-hosted by CNN reporter (and the documentary's narrator), Soledad O'Brien, as well as GLAAD executive director Jarrett Barrios. I have to give CNN big props for tackling this project, which involved filming in multiple states over more than a year. In addition to the big PR push for tomorrow's night's showing at 8PM, they've created an teacher's guide for high schools and colleges.

GLAAD's Jarrett Barrios, who has two adoptive sons of his own, stressed to me that while the vast majority of gay couples use other methods to create their families, Gary & Tony Have A Baby is nevertheless a very positive look at a gay parenthood. The trailer is here and below are just a few photos I took at the screening.

President Obama Mentions Gay Dads In Father's Day Proclamation

As he did for gay moms in his Mother's Day message, President Obama mentions gay dads in his Father's Day proclamation. An excerpt:

Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian. We owe a special debt of gratitude for those parents serving in the United States Armed Forces and their families, whose sacrifices protect the lives and liberties of all American children. For the character they build, the doors they open, and the love they provide over our lifetimes, all our fathers deserve our unending appreciation and admiration.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 20, 2010, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Let us honor our fathers, living and deceased, with all the love and gratitude they deserve.

Father's Day is tomorrow.