Family Equality and the Constitutional Promise of Neutrality

Daddy, Papa and Me is a blog about "an unconventional family in today's world...adoption, parenting, same-sex parenting, marriage equality...a family headed by two men, a family with adopted children, a family that is transracial, an urban family, an American family, a family that deals with the 'mundane' issues like health and finances, starting a business and schools."

After reading the scathing grand jury report about the tragic death of 14 year-old Danieal Kelly, and the two Department of Human Services child protection workers that were charged with failing to protect her (timeline), it's an abomination that potentially loving parents are often prevented from adopting children solely because they fall in love with the same sex. This is especially true in a society where so many children are left to fend for themselves with no one but abusive "parents", foster parents, and/or institutions to "provide" for their needs.

We don't want our tax dollars used to take care of these kids, rationalizing that it's not our fault that these poor parents are total losers, addicts, etc, so we vote for people who instead line the pockets of the wealthy and rule out the very thing that might help to provide for these children, with no cost to we, the people...gay marriage and adoption. One can only come to the conclusion that we want these children to suffer for the sins of their "good for nothing" parents.

Years ago, I overheard someone say the following regarding another child who succumbed to a similar fate as Danieal Kelly. "It's a shame some children have to suffer like that, that they are tortured, die...oh well, that's too bad that child died...those stupid DSH workers...and to think our tax dollars pay these idiots...it makes me so mad when politicians talk about helping poor stupid parents with our money... oh, did you hear my poor little "buffy"? She had to sit on the bench for half the game. She practices her little heart out...it's tragic...just tragic!"

You can bet that same lady, too stupid to understand that the average DSH worker, having the most depressing job in the world, makes minimum wage, is overworked, and has little to no support from his or her superiors. Not to excuse the DSH workers at all but, what does that lady expect from over-worked, minimum-wage paid workers? You get what you pay for. In addition, I'm sure gay parents horrify her.

Hopefully, the Circuit Court judge who just ruled Florida's 31-year-old gay adoption ban unconstitutional in a case involving a special needs child, who testified that "he wanted the foster dad to be his 'forever father' - like all the other kids had" will finally change the law banning gay adoption, however, this ban has been ruled unconstitutional twice before.

When asked why he wanted his guardian to adopt him, the teen replied: "Because I love him," the order says.
A home study by a social worker "highly" recommended the guardian and his partner be allowed to adopt the boy, saying the two men provided a "loving and nurturing home", provided "fair and consistent" discipline and are financially secure, the order says.

The "Constitutional promise of neutrality"*, impartiality, respect, neutrality, equality, judicial independence and the rule of law are all concepts central to understanding our Constitution, yet these ideas do not seem to factor in to decisions regarding family equality the way they should in an "evolved" culture as ours supposedly is.

Links:
Adoption Laws: State by State.
Tips for coming out to your kids
Box Turtle Bulletin -News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric

Blogs:
Daddy, Papa and Me is a blog about "an unconventional family in today's world...adoption, parenting, same-sex parenting, marriage equality...a family headed by two men, a family with adopted children, a family that is transracial, an urban family, an American family, a family that deals with the 'mundane' issues like health and finances, starting a business and schools."
Gay Fathers
FullerBrantner - 2 gay dads in San Francisco.
Guy Dads
Brian's Weblog - hasn't been updated since March of 2006 however I included it anyway because of the pictures.

Children of Gay Parents:
Kids of Queers
Damn Straight
COLAGE

* Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy