So, this new bill would propose that biological parents can choose who can adopt their child, whether they're cohabiting or not. Of course it didn't pass. It would effectively be a loop-hole to Utah's backwards adoption rules. But logically, it should have passed. Lately our legislature has been trumpeting their horn about less government, less intrusive government and parental rights. But it seems that in an issue like this, the government believes it should be able to tell biological parents whom they can allow their children to be cared for by and the future of those children. I could believe that perhaps orphans would be held to this double standard because they're "wards of the state". But stepping on parental rights?
A quote from the comment section of this article: "Utah law prohibits anyone who is living in an unmarried, cohabiting relationship from adopting or fostering children." And yet there is no law on the planet that can keep unmarried, cohabiting individuals from actually having children, so the law is ridiculous. And why shouldn't gay and lesbian people have the same right as straight people to endure a nasty custody battle if things don't work out?
I guess it goes to show that homophobia trumps Republican/Tea Party ideals of small and unobtrusive government. Hypocritical? Yes!
