HRC Back Story

NOTE FROM CHRIS: In response to the Arkansas Department of Human Services moving to change its adoption rules, HRC's Family Project Director Ellen Kahn sent us a post discussing the significance of the decision and how she is continuing to work with family advocates to open the doors of adoption for same-sex parents through HRC's All Children—All Families initiative.

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The decision by Arkansas’ Department of Human Services to change the rule about placing children with “unmarried” couples is significant beyond words. 

In a state where conservative political forces have tried and failed numerous times to prevent LGBT people from becoming foster or adoptive parents, the issue is perhaps finally put to rest: the people in Arkansas who are mandated to find homes for children and youth in foster care have spoken. They have echoed what we already know: there is no longer a debate about “whether” LGBT people can be good parents, or whether we “should be” parents.  Rather, the guiding principle is that every child have the right to a family who will love and support them unconditionally, and there is simply no reason to close the door to any potential family on the basis on sexual orientation (and gender identity, though the child welfare profession has not yet, uniformly, embraced the idea of trans people as parents). 

We honor the leaders at Arkansas’ Department of Human Services who took a public position at a pivotal moment, just weeks before Arkansans will vote on a ballot measure that would, if passed, slam the door shut to hundreds of state’s foster children who might now wait another year, or two, or more before being matched with the family that is best for them—families that include unmarried straight couple and unmarried gay and lesbian couples. 

Now we must hope (and do everything possible) to educate the good people of Arkansas to vote against the ballot measure, and with the powerful and important statement from DHS, the outcome seems more likely to be the best outcome for expanding the pool of families for the kids who are waiting. 

HRC’s All Children—All Families initiative aims to expand the pool of families for children by promoting fairness for LGBT foster and adoptive parents, and by helping agencies become more welcoming, supportive and culturally competent when working with our community.  We are profoundly grateful to have support from some of the nation’s leading child welfare experts who see the natural intersection between the LGBT community’s pursuit of creating families and raising children, and the need to insure that those of us who pursue foster or adoptive parenting are embraced and given the same opportunities as our straight counterparts to provide a loving, permanent home to a child. 

The All Children—All Families initiative has received signed pledges from 30 agencies across the U.S., including some of the largest public agencies like Los Angeles County’s Division of Adoption and Permanency, Clark County Division of Child and Family Services (Nevada) the New Jersey Division of Child and Family Services.  Learn more about these and other agencies and the various paths to parenthood at www.hrc.org/parenting.

[Photo: Ellen Kahn with the All Children—All Families advisory board.]