Charlie Crist Considering Dropping Gay Adoption Appeal
BY CARLOS SANTOSCOY
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
After endorsing a number of gay rights measures on Monday, Florida
Governor Charlie Crist on Tuesday said he is considering dropping the
state's lawsuit that seeks to uphold Florida's ban on gay men and
lesbians adopting children.
Governor Charlie Crist on Tuesday said he is considering dropping the
state's lawsuit that seeks to uphold Florida's ban on gay men and
lesbians adopting children.
The former Republican now running for the U.S. Senate as an independent
told reporters that he's going to review the appeal.
told reporters that he's going to review the appeal.
“I think we need to review that,” Crist said. “It's better to have more of
the judicial branch involved in this process.”
the judicial branch involved in this process.”
Crist has previously hinted that he disagrees with the nation's only law
that outright prohibits adoption based on sexual orientation, but in
a document released Monday endorsing a number of gay rights initiatives,
but which stopped short of backing marriage equality, he said he
objected to the ban.
that outright prohibits adoption based on sexual orientation, but in
a document released Monday endorsing a number of gay rights initiatives,
but which stopped short of backing marriage equality, he said he
objected to the ban.
“We need to take politics out of adoption decisions,” he said.
“That is why I oppose Florida's current law that requires Family Law
judges to ignore what is right for a child in order to adhere to what
Florida law blindly demands. There is only one question that matters:
What is in the best interest of the child?”
“That is why I oppose Florida's current law that requires Family Law
judges to ignore what is right for a child in order to adhere to what
Florida law blindly demands. There is only one question that matters:
What is in the best interest of the child?”
Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human
Rights Council, a group that advocates for gay rights, told On Top
Magazine that he doubts Crist's sincerity.
Rights Council, a group that advocates for gay rights, told On Top
Magazine that he doubts Crist's sincerity.
“Over the years, I have tried to give Charlie Crist the benefit of the doubt,
but I can no longer do that. There have just been too many times he
could have supported our community and either chose not to do so or
actively came out against our interests,” Hoch said, referring to Crist's
support for placing a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Florida's
Constitution.
but I can no longer do that. There have just been too many times he
could have supported our community and either chose not to do so or
actively came out against our interests,” Hoch said, referring to Crist's
support for placing a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Florida's
Constitution.
As recently as last month, Crist reiterated his support for banning gay
marriage during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union.
marriage during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is representing
Martin Gill, the man who sued the state for the right to adopt two
boys in his foster care, said Gill does not want the appeal to be dropped.
Martin Gill, the man who sued the state for the right to adopt two
boys in his foster care, said Gill does not want the appeal to be dropped.
In 2008, Gill won his case in a Miami-Dade court, but without a ruling
from a court with statewide jurisdiction the ban would remain in effect
for most of Florida.
from a court with statewide jurisdiction the ban would remain in effect
for most of Florida.
In addition to supporting gay adoptions, Crist also said he backs repeal
of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the 1993 that forbids gay troops from serving
openly, a federal gay-inclusive anti-bullying measure, a federal bill that
would allow the spouses of gay government workers access to benefits,
and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a controversial bill that
Congress has previously attempted to attach to immigration reform
measures with little luck. The UAFA would allow gay Americans to
sponsor a spouse for citizenship over the objections of the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that forbids federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the 1993 that forbids gay troops from serving
openly, a federal gay-inclusive anti-bullying measure, a federal bill that
would allow the spouses of gay government workers access to benefits,
and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a controversial bill that
Congress has previously attempted to attach to immigration reform
measures with little luck. The UAFA would allow gay Americans to
sponsor a spouse for citizenship over the objections of the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that forbids federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
Crist, who has long denied rumors that he's gay, defended his shift on
Tuesday, saying he's become “less judgmental” with age.
Tuesday, saying he's become “less judgmental” with age.
“I think that the older you get, the less judgmental you become. Maybe
I was more rigid earlier. But I don't feel that way. And I know who's suppose
to be judging people and it's not me.”
I was more rigid earlier. But I don't feel that way. And I know who's suppose
to be judging people and it's not me.”
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