A Point Of View From The South

Nashville resident and TNG reader Chris submitted this post.

"Adoption - Prohibits any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 49."

That is the exact wording of a law that conservatives are hoping to pass in my home state of Tennessee. (Kentucky has a similar law they're trying to pass as well.) The law is proposed by Senator Paul Stanley in January of 2009.

This is what I like to call a "Backdoor Law." Social Conservatives proposed gay adoption bans in the past and the laws failed to pass in Tennessee. Now there's no mention of homosexuals in the new law (though it would still ban them, as gay marriage is not only illegal but a constitutional amendment - which passed with 82% of the majority vote btw), so it cannot be ruled as prejudicial.

Quite clever, these bigots. Most southern people would read the law and think, "Well I don't believe children should happen outside of marriage. I agree with that." They'll support this law without thinking of the actual consequences. These bigots know that. The average person thinks only about 5 minutes ahead, and the Big Picture is rarely seen. Supporters of this law aren't necessarily bad people or mean people (most of the time), they’re just short sighted people.

And once again, anti-gay legislature is hiding behind children. "We're saving the children!" Really? Denying them homes so they can spend most of their life in foster care is in the best interest of the children? These people actually believe that foster care is better than being raised by an unmarried straight couple or a committed gay couple.

Here's the rub: this law actually hurts those older children in foster care. The older a child gets, the fewer the chances he/she has to be adopted. When people adopt, most likely they want brand new babies. If they can't have their own, they use fertility drugs and surgeries until they fail. Then they might adopt, but if they do, they want an infant. An 8 year old and an 11 year old don't have a chance in hell.

So on top of exploiting children, lowering their chances of finding homes, and limiting the rights of one targeted minority group, these Christian policy makers are hypocrites. How many unwanted kids have they adopted today?

It's Big Brother government using Jesus Christ as a battleaxe.

The other ludicrous aspect of this law is how expensive it would be. Tennessee is almost bankrupt. Our infrastructure is falling apart, our education system is in shambles, and our healthcare system (TennCare) is slowly cracking under the population's weight. Yet the most pressing need is controlling adult behavior and limiting the definition of a family.

Now, there is something that we can do and that's publicly oppose this law and all like it. Anyone who lives in Tennessee and even people who don't live in Tennessee, you can email Senator Paul Stanley and the state legislature. How? Simple. Follow these links:

Email Senator Paul Stanley

Suggestions for Sound Arguments To Make Regarding This Law

Donate To The Tennessee Equality Project