Today, George Sheldon, Director of Florida’s Department of Children & Families (DCF) announced that the agencies will not appeal an intermediate court ruling that a 1977 prohibition on allowing gays and lesbians to adopt violates the state constitution. DCF has determined that the ruling is applicable statewide, therefore sexual orientation will no longer be a factor in uniting children with parents. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:
“Today is a victory for children in need of loving families throughout Florida. Every child deserves a permanent, stable home and now gay and lesbian parents can provide for some of the thousands of children in foster care across the state. Congratulations to the Gill family. Their tenacity, coupled with stellar representation from the ACLU, led to the end of a 33-year discriminatory ban.”
