Tallahassee – The anti-gay adoption bill will now makes it way to the state Senate after the Florida House passed the bill 75-38.
The House bill gives child placing agencies the right to deny adoptions for a couple or individual if it violates that agency’s religious or moral convictions.
“While the bill does not mention gay, what we are really talking about now is gay rights in the state of Florida,” said Rep. David Richardson (Miami-Dade-D).
Richardson spoke from the House floor comparing the vote on the adoption bill to civil rights issues that faced the nation more than 50 years ago.
“If you are open to the public, then you are open to the public,” Richardson said. “If the lunch counter is open, it is open to everyone.”
Richardson said this bill was proposed as a direct response to the Adoption and Foster Care bill (HB7013) being brought to the legislature. HB 7013 would strike outdated language that prohibits adoption by gay people in the State of Florida, a ban that was ruled unconstitutional in 2010 and hasn’t been enforced since.
“I remember watching Anita Bryant on TV 38 years ago when that law was enacted,” said Richardson. “I remember feeling alone and thinking it’s going to be a difficult life.”
Republicans, while mostly quiet during the amendment’s preliminary reading on April 8, spoke in support of the discriminatory bill, thanking Rep. Jason Brodeur (Sanford-R) for having the courage to bring this bill to the House.
“Have we forgotten our heritage?” asked Rep. Ross Spano (Riverview-R). “Let’s faithfully guard the legacy we’ve been given. We should be encouraging these agencies to do adoptions. Thank you Rep. Brodeur for doing this great work.”
Rep. Dennis Baxley (Ocala-R) and Rep. Larry Ahern (Seminole-R) both said they regret supporting HB 7013 and saw this bill as their way to make good with their religious conflict.
“I care deeply that we show fairness and equality to everyone, but as people of faith we should care deeply about our convictions,” Baxley said.
Rep. Darryl Rouson (St. Petersburg-D) raised concerns about the bill based on his own religious conviction.
“I’m not sure, but it’s why I am opposing this bill, that there are not some reminisces of homophobia in the guise of religious freedom. My faith understands that we should not be condoning discrimination,” Rouson said. “This bill just doesn’t pass the gut test.”
The ACLU was quick to respond to the vote with a press release stating the bill is clearly motivated by an animus towards the LGBT community, but that the effects will be much broader.
“Like the Indiana law that caused such a backlash, this bill would authorize State sanctioned discrimination, but here, children would be the ones who bear the brunt of discrimination and taxpayers would foot the bill. The Florida House could not be more wrongheaded. Discrimination does not become legal simply because Florida legislators declare that what an agency does isn’t discrimination,” said Michelle Richardson, ACLU Director of Florida Public Policy.
The bill will now move to the Senate for review.
