Witnesses Give Testimony in Foster Parent Challenge
 

Witnesses Give Testimony in Foster Parent Challenge
Location: Little Rock
Reporter: Beth Hunt
Posted: March 23, 2004 5:52 PM EST

Little Rock - The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging a
state policy that bans gay people from being foster parents. The trial
began Tuesday in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Witnesses began giving testimony Tuesday both for and against this
policy that prevents gay people from becoming foster parents in
Arkansas.

The state claims kids are better off in a more traditional family
setting, but the ACLU disagrees.

Arkansas is one of only a few states that has a policy banning gay
people and anyone living in a household with a gay adult from being
foster parents.

An ACLU lawsuit, however, is now challenging that policy in court. The
state presented a couple of studies Tuesday that claim children are
better off with a mother and father, that gay people are more likely
to commit child sex abuse, and expose children to domestic violence.
The ACLU on the other hand, says much of that research is often put
out by anti-gay advocacy groups.

It will be up to Judge Timothy Fox to decide if the current policy is
in the best interest of Arkansas children. "We do not have enough
qualified foster parents available as it is. We do not need to be
eliminating a group of people from that pool who may be able to
provide the things a good foster parent can."

Testimony will continue Wednesday; the trial is expected to wrap up on
Thursday.

URL: http://www.katv.com/news/stories//134289.html

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