In a blog post this week, the Donaldson Adoption Institute (DAI) endorsed nationwide marriage equality in support of thousands of youth in need of foster or adoptive parents, writes Hayley Miller on hrc.com.
April Dinwoodie and Kimberly Paglino authored the post, titled, “In Good Conscience,” and outlined the significant positive impact nationwide marriage equality could have on children.
“We cannot, as a country, espouse the principle of equality in theory only; our actions must always reflect this core value as well. DAI urges our supporters to stand with us in opposing any law, policy or regulation that treats families unequally and harms children.
Changes in laws and policies are a critical first step to address these issues; even then that doesn’t guarantee a change in behavior. So from there we must all actively engage in changing our attitudes and beliefs about adoption, foster care and what it means to be family. It is within this notion of transforming our consciousness that we will effect the most profound and lasting changes to the system that engages in adoption transactions.
The landscape of the American Family is changing every day, with diversity in structure, form and appearance. Ideally we will not simply tolerate these differences, but embrace them for the richness that diversity brings to our lives. This is how we will act in good conscience towards our children. And they deserve it.”
The post also takes a stand against the spate of anti-LGBT bills that have been introduced in state legislatures around the country this year. The bills include measures that would allow discrimination in adoption and foster care and give service providers the power to deny child welfare services to the very people who need our care the most.
As we mark National Foster Care Month, HRC is proud to partner with DAI in advocating for LGBT adoption nationwide.
Read the post in full here.
