Portugal’s parliament has passed a motion overturning the presidential veto on a bill legalizing adoption by same-sex couples, reports Reuters. President Anibal Cavaco Silva will now have to sign the bill into law before his term ends in March. The motion was passed by 137 votes in the 230-seat parliament, bringing together the ruling Socialists,…
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that prohibiting same-gender couples from adopting children was unconstitutional. Telesurtv.net reported that a Mexican law prohibiting civil unions that bans both heterosexual or homosexual couples from adopting minors was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) on the basis that the union is recognized as…
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation has released resources that answer questions many same-sex couples are asking in advance of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could make nationwide marriage equality a reality. Will marriage equality change my medical decision-making rights? How about my health insurance options? Will a positive decision clear the path for…
Today, major child advocacy groups joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in opposing an extreme anti-LGBT adoption bill in Texas that is dangerously close to becoming law. Texas HB 3864, which has passed through the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, would enshrine special discrimination rights into law by allowing adoption agencies contracted by…
Today, the Human Rights Campaign, urged the Michigan Senate to defeat a package of extreme anti-LGBT adoption bills and called on Gov. Rick Snyder to veto them if they reach his desk. HB 4188, HB 4189, and HB 4190 would enshrine special discrimination rights into Michigan law by allowing adoption agencies contracted by the state…
In a bipartisan vote, the Florida Senate today gave final approval to a bill designed to help more foster children find permanent homes. The bill also removes an outdated and unconstitutional ban on gays and lesbians adopting children. Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin, spoke eloquently in urging his colleagues not to be swayed by…
Today the Florida House voted by 75-38 to advance a measure that would enshrine discrimination rights into Florida law by allowing any private adoption agency — both secular and religious, including agencies that receive taxpayer dollars — to discriminate against qualified prospective parents based on the agency’s religious or political beliefs, including those regarding sexual…
It was supposed to be as much a day about celebration as it was one of unification: In a case being followed worldwide, Colombia’s Constitutional Court granted the partner of one couple, university professor Veronica Botero, the right to adopt the artificially inseminated children of Ana Leiderman, her spouse, in 2014. But seven months later,…
MONTGOMERY— Today, lawmakers in Alabama introduced two bills, S.B. 261 and H.B. 296, which empower adoption agencies to discriminate against eligible parents and guardians—legislation which, if passed, will deny countless children from accessing loving, caring homes. Though written in the guise of allowing private agencies to cite religious reasons for turning down applications, the bills have a host of…
In addition to passing a Religious Freedom Restoration Act through the Michigan House of Representatives Dec. 4, in a surprise move the Michigan legislative body also resurrected three bills that would allow adoption or foster care providers to refuse services on the basis of their personal religious objections—the consequences of which would be immediate, random,…
