March 16, 2005: Victory - Adoption Ban Bill Defeated - Thank Those Voting No

Dear Friends,

I just returned from the Children and Family Affairs Committee where HB775, Representative Clem's bill to ban lesbians and gay men from adopting, was defeated by an 11-9 vote. Please send a thank you note to all the legislators who stood up for "the best interest of the child" and did not allow the political posturing of those supporting the bill to influence their vote. House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh took the unusual step of speaking to the committee and voting against the bill. This adoption ban bill would have punished children by restricting the number of adoptive homes available. In addition, by singling out lesbians and gay men for categorical exclusion from the pool of adoptive parents when there is no child welfare basis for doing so, the bill violated the guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Many thanks.
Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director

Please send thank yous to all the legislators who voted No. You may contact these legislators toll-free by calling 1-800-449-8366 and entering 1 and the extensions listed below. (omitted for web)

Rep. John DeBerry (Chair) (D-Memphis)

Rep. Sherry Jones (Vice Chair) (D-Nashville)

Rep. Beverly Marrero (Secretary) (D-Memphis)

Rep. Kathryn Bowers (D-Memphis)

Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga)

Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis)

Rep. Joanne Favors (D-Chattanooga)

Rep. Mark Maddox (D-Dresden)

Rep. Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar)

Rep. Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory)

Speaker Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington)