PFLAG on McCain remarks re adoption

[beckyg]

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN MCCAIN ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION
TO ADOPTION RIGHTS FOR LESBIAN AND GAY COUPLES
"MCCAIN WOULD DENY LOVING HOMES TO CHILDREN WHO DESPERATELY NEED
THEM," SAYS PFLAG

WASHINGTON, DC – In an interview published in Sunday's New York
Times, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the presumptive Republican
presidential nominee, announced his unequivocal opposition to
adoption rights for lesbian and gay couples. "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, who with his wife Cindy
is a foster parent, told the paper.

"In a country where more than 125,000 children are waiting for foster
parents, Senator McCain would deny loving homes to children who
desperately need them simply because of an outdated prejudice about
what a family may look like," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive
director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG). "We are disappointed and saddened that a public leader who
is himself an adoptive father would deny the children in America's
foster care system the opportunity to thrive as part of a welcoming
family. Love makes a family, but short-sighted positions like
Senator McCain's can certainly tear families apart, too."

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "A growing body of
scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1
or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive,
social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are
heterosexual." The AAP has also noted that, "Overall, there are more
similarities than differences in the parenting styles and attitudes
of gay and non-gay" parents. Children raised by same-sex
couples "seem to develop normally in every way," the group has
reported.

"In fact,," the Academy has said, "growing up with parents who are
lesbian or gay may confer some advantages to children. They have been
described as more tolerant of diversity and more nurturing toward
younger children than children whose parents are heterosexual."

"Senator McCain's position is out of synch with the research and
science and out of step with what is in the best interests of
children waiting for a home and a family," Huckaby said. "PFLAG
knows the pain inflicted upon families due to misinformation about
LGBT issues. We implore Senator McCain to take a serious look at the
overwhelming evidence and listen to the stories of the countless
children raised by loving lesbian and gay couples. The evidence is
clear: children should not be denied access to the loving homes of
gay couples."

# # #
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes
the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an
adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and
advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.
PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and
gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and
respectful of human diversity.

[LorenzG1950]

Here is what I posted to the Advocate website when I saw the story.

Back to topPost a CommentName: Lorenz
Date posted: 2008-07-15 5:00 AM
Hometown: Mannheim, Germany

Comment:
The timing couldn't be better. Finally, McCain is showing his true colors and an astounding level of narrow-mindedness. If there were any gays even thinking about voting for McCain, their eyes should be opened by now. Any person or couple who has the love and financial means should be able to adopt a child. It's time that the archaic concepts of "family" according to Bush, McCain, and organized religions is relegated to the history books where they belong. Now if Obama can stand up for gay adoption, that should be worth another 5 points in the polls. Thanks, McCain for showing your ignorance and bigotry.

[Corny]

Isn't gay adoption already a reality in the US? That's quite a statement he did there .. let's hope also mass-media will feature that.

[Tim]

Wow, he's just digging himself in a bigger and bigger hole o.o

[beckyg]

Originally Posted by Corny

Isn't gay adoption already a reality in the US? That's quite a statement he did there .. let's hope also mass-media will feature that.

No, we've really got a long way to go.

http://www.hrc.org/documents/parenting_laws_maps.pdf

He makes me sick...hopefully this older then dust man who has never even used the internet will either wake up or not get elected.

[acorn7]

Yeah, I saw that comment (on Perez Hilton :P ). Just reinforces the fact that I would *never* vote for him... even if I could.

[TyraBanksIsFierce]

i still dont get why any gay people would vote for him o.o

even if they don't plan to adopt kids or get married

[Wander]

I can see that some LGBT voters would choose note to vote over a single issue, but this is becoming ridiculous. I didn't think any potential president could be less sympathetic to the issues slung at the LGBT crowd than Bush, but then McCain came along. I couldn't like him, look up to him, or support him if I tried.

[MeskElil]

Originally Posted by beckyg

No, we've really got a long way to go.

http://www.hrc.org/documents/parenting_laws_maps.pdf

Sorry, off-topic, but YES!!! California allows it. I wasn't sure.

Anyway...

Yeah, I really think he's making BIG mistakes talking about his views on gay rights. I mean, we're a significant part of the community...and he's kinda rejecting some votes there. *sigh* I really hate politics.

[Sam]

I saw this on the advocate today. McCain has already dug himself into a hole and now he is burying himself with this new comment. First gay marriage and now gay adoption it hurts me that someone would just keep putting us down like this. It's people like him that keep us from progressing. It's 2008 it's time to start acting like it! I WILL NOT be voting for him.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by TyraBanksIsFierce

i still dont get why any gay people would vote for him o.o

even if they don't plan to adopt kids or get married

Well, there's still McCain supporters on EC, so prob. not best to say anything bad about GLBT voters who are voting for him o.o;

oh dear

[Sapphist]

Personally,im not a McCain fan. I respect myself far too much to support conservatives. The LGBT community is generally attacked far too often by the conservatives.McCain is in too deep of a hole with the majority of the LGBT's to get out now. He needs to learn respect for the people that make up 10% or more of the population-hes gotta know hes loosing votes.

[TyraBanksIsFierce]

Originally Posted by Myzou

Well, there's still McCain supporters on EC, so prob. not best to say anything bad about GLBT voters who are voting for him o.o;

I didn't say anyhting bad about them was just wonderong why

[Wander]

Like I said, many people feel that there are issues more important to them than LGBT rights, and some feel that McCain's stances on other issues outweigh his negative stances on LGBT related material. I'm not one of those people, I could never bring myself to vote for someone who would deny such basic rights to people because he doesn't approve of them, but there are people who could. That's up to them.

[Alexander]

I never thought that someone who used the term "The Google" could be very astute. Point proven.

[the ry guy]

I'm actually surprised McCain is even allowed to run for president, technically he can't apply for any federal government jobs anymore because of age restrictions. if the federal government says he's to old to work for them, why is he allowed to try and run for the most important job in america?

[the ry guy]

Originally Posted by TyraBanksIsFierce

I didn't say anyhting bad about them was just wonderong why

It's a two faced coin really, on one side I'm a soldier in the U.S. army reserve and mccain has more to offer me as a vet, McCain has visited some of the bases in Iraq to support the troops and has talked about expanding the rights of vets, and talked about pay increases and what he wants to do for the troops where as Obama has not.
However, on the flip side I'm also a civilian (weekend warrior) and I'm gay, so from a civilian standpoint Obama has more to offer me than McCain does, that and I've also had a pretty crappy experience in the military and have no intentions of re-enlisting which is why I'm going to vote for Obama cause i for one would like to see some changes.

[Cheese Love]

I think it's interesting how the article brought up that he too was a foster parent and yet would deny the right to same-sex couples. Tsk tsk :[

There is one thing to keep in mind, however. Although John McCain may not believe in or support it, I don't think he would actively move to ban it. Same-sex adoption and/or foster care is already legal in most states. However, say if Florida were to lift their ban on same-sex adoption I'm sure he would endorse the fight to keep it banned.