Introduction: In his book: Same-sex marriage: Pro and Con: a Reader, Andrew Sullivan writes that homosexual marriage and by extension the right of gay couples to adopt children can be discussed on many levels including from social, societal, political and religious perspectives. One of his most important points is that any rational person considering this issue would have to concede that without the right to same sex marriage there cannot be social, economic or political equality for homosexuals in America. He suggests that fear of homosexual, homosexuality gay rights, and the right to allow gay people and gay couples to adopt children is one of the last prejudices that American society has not yet to face. Sullivan writes that that for any prejudice to be defeated, it must first be acknowledged by society as being a problem. Only after Americans acknowledge that this prejudice against gay people, who make up as much as 10 percent of the population of this country by some estimates, is a problem will there be the kind of support necessary to address and correct it. Sullivan writes that given the substantial number of gays and lesbians in America it is time to open the question of gay marriage and gay adoption to meaningful discussion and debate (Sullivan, 1997).
According to an essay on the Human Rights Campaign website, House Bill 1119 was introduced by Representative Bob Adams of Sheridan, Arkansas and if it becomes law this Bill will make sweeping changes to Arkansas adoption laws and foster home regulations. The Bill prohibits unmarried adults who are living together outside of marriage from adopting a child and from becoming foster parents. The Bill applies to adoptions arranged through the state as well as private adoptions. Approved by the House on a 78-13 vote, HB 1119 was amended from its original form that specifically prohibited homosexual couples from adopting children and from becoming foster parents. The original...