Martin Gill And ACLU Release Statement Asking That Florida Not Appeal Ruling Finding State Gay Adoption Ban Unconstitutional; Florida Department Of Children And Families Issues Directive Forbidding Perspective Adoptive Parents Sexual Orientation From Being Ascertained

Martin Gill – the father of two adopted boys at the centre of a case before a Florida appeals court that ruled Wednesday the state’s ban on gay men and women adopting was unconstitutional has released a statement, along with the American Civil Liberties Union that represented him, asking that the case be dropped and not sent to the state Supreme Court, that according to the Miami Herald. Gill’s statement in part reads “I understand that the Governor would like to hear my views in considering whether to appeal the decision of the Third District Court of Appeal striking down the ban on adoption by lesbians and gay men. After considerable thought and consultation with my attorneys at the ACLU, it is my hope that the State will not appeal and the case will stop here. The ban has kept me from adopting the two boys who have known me as Papi for the past six years. This deprives them of the emotional security of knowing they are part of a forever family. The law is also an obstacle to adoption for countless other Florida children who have no family of their own. I understand that if the State does not appeal this decision, it will apply to all Floridians and put an end to this baseless law that has harmed my kids and so many other children and families. I am eager to adopt my two children and to remove this barrier to adoption for other children as soon as possible. Ending this case now would be the quickest way for that to happen.”

It is thought that without the case being brought before the state Supreme Court, the issue will remain in a kind of legal limbo, and the ruling Wednesday will ultimately only impact Mr. Gill and his case. However, the Miami Herald also reports that Thursday, the Department of Children and Families issued new instructions to foster care workers throughout Florida ordering them to “no longer to ask perspective adoptive parents whether they are heterosexual, gay, or lesbian, nor are you to use this as a factor in determining the suitability of applicants to adopt. Focus your attention on the quality of parenting that prospective adoptive parents would provide, and their commitment to and love for our children.”