Arkansas Blog

So you already have sign an abstinence pledge to be a foster parent? Really?

Spock would not care much for your post Max. It is not logical! How can you spend the first part saying that Act 1 should go down because they are better off having a gay family than no family at all, and then turn around and criticize using an agency that finds families for these children just because they have a restriction you don't approve of? Would you prefer the state not use them? Then what happened to your point that the kids need all the families they can get, wherever direction they come from?

Also, equating black with someone who engages in homosexual acts is an invalid comparison. One is a behavior, the other is a phenotype. Though we may disagree on where the lines should be drawn, surely you see the logic in discriminating based on BEHAVIOR in who ought to be allowed access to children under state care.

ARK. BLOG: Let me make it clear, for the third time. The religious group is free to impose whatever standards it wishes to impose for the people it serves. The state merely need not facilitate its discriminatory activities by promoting them (and by denying service to someone who was NOT homosexual and who was NOT cohabitating but who refused to sign the religious group's pledge.) The state should accept all willing foster parents -- gay or straight -- if they demonstrate the offer the qualities of a safe and nurturing home. The Supreme Court has said the distinction you wish to draw is 1) unconstitutional and 2) unsupported by evidence.

One way to surely discourage fostering/adopting is to tell people (any people) they can't have sex. Even the right-wing types have sex. What could be more fundamental?

On another note, is it true that Act 1 would also affect private adoption? Surely that can't be right.

ARK. BLOG: It WOULD affect private adoption.

If the Gov. Mike Beebe refuses to recognize the state supreme courts decision sidestepping a Supreme Court ruling that it was unconstitutional for the state to discriminate based on nonpublished findings on cohabiting heterosexuals and on homosexuals who foster children. This state Government is discriminating against its taxpayers. Therefor if homosexuals are not allowed to foster a child period, then they should not have to pay a school tax fostering children in a society that holds them as a nonequal citizen. You wouldn't want GAY TAXPAYER money to help put these children through school would you. That would be sending the wrong message to them ironically yes.
Sincerely,
Shane

The Gov. Mike Beebe refuses to recognize the state supreme courts decision sidestepping a Supreme Court ruling that it was unconstitutional for the state to discriminate based on nonpublished findings on cohabiting heterosexuals and on homosexuals who foster children. This state Government is discriminating against its taxpayers. Therefor if homosexuals are not allowed to foster a child period, then they should not have to pay a school tax fostering children in a society that holds them as a nonequal citizen. You wouldn't want GAY TAXPAYER money to help put these children through school would you. That would be sending the wrong message to them wouldn't it? Ironically the answer would be yes.
Sincerely,
Shane

Our state government, a public entity, can just go partnering up with any old private, religious entity that it wants to? Eeyooo. Where did these two meet, on the internet? I do not want my family to see them walking up and down the street.

I agree with Shane...no eligibility = no pay.

Wonder how long it would take the state to add this tax credit to the State Tax Code and onto the filing forms. To move forward with this, how would the state go about making sure a straight married male (or female) did not claim this exemption falsely? Oh, wait, all of us gays will be given a serial number, or have to carry a card, etc. Sounds kind of "Nazi-ish" to me....

Our State Government is not seperated by church and state. It is being attacked by a religious so called right that sets its standards for every tax paying citizen. Your pivacy and lives are no longer private in the State of Arkansas. Your State Government is overstepping its own laws and making our everyday lives more of an open book. What next? They'll probably start using infrared to see when you're having private intimacy in your own home, just to make sure it's with your cohabiting partner or not one of the same sex, otherwise how would they truly know? This ACT 1 signature form is nothing but discrimination. If someone want's to have sex with any other person not signed on their form, they will, and no piece of paper will or can stop that. The Gov. of Arkansas and the so called religious right of Arkansas are not without sin, yet they seem to be casting the first stone, I say get thee behind me.
Sincerely,
Shane

sexual loyalty oath

Damn....there's were me and the wife goofed up 26 years ago tomorrow. I got nothing in writing concerning sex. Funny...when we got married we were too busy having sex to write a sex manifesto and now we got plenty of time to hand write War & Peace 12 dozen times.

I am opposed to including any kind of religious group in Arkansas governmental affairs. Let the church groups open their own unwed mother's homes and if they keep them in chains.....so be it. Mixing up church and state benefits church and screw up state. Next thing ya know they'll be cutting babies in half.....I read about that somewhere.....have to think.

"Though we may disagree on where the lines should be drawn, surely you see the logic in discriminating based on BEHAVIOR in who ought to be allowed access to children under state care...."

Posted by: Achbani

So phenotype is now the only basis on which discrimination occurs?

Discrimination is discrimination. In this case a GROUP is being discriminated against. It's illegal (in other areas of the law) to discriminate against certain groups: people over 40, veterans, people with disabilities, etc.

There's something wrong with religious groups being paid to do things they should be doing on their own. When did so many religious groups become whores?

I'll add that we (society) shouldn't even NEED to make people with alternative sexual orientations a protected group. It shouldn't be considered "an issue". Sexual orientation simply shouldn't be a factor in this process.

"...You wouldn't want GAY TAXPAYER money to help put these children through school would you."--shane

There ya go...fair is fair. In fact, gays should get out of a lot of tax obligation given they're not allowed to FULLY participate in the society those monies support...representation/taxation and all that silly OLD stuff. They're just 'pieces of paper' and ideas after all.

Everyone should be protected. Decisions should be made on merits and not prejudices.

"..When did so many religious groups become whores?"

As long as organized religion's been around it's been fertile ground for money-whores. Sadly...it's nothing new. Even ol' Jesus had a hissy fit over the money-whores sullying a temple.

Dear God, please find Jerry Cox and his friends at Family Council real jobs so they can leave the rest of us alone to live our lives as we see fit. That includes allowing kids in foster care to be fostered by anyone or adopted by anyone who will love, care and provide them with a stable home.
KTHXBY

PS. Please do something about Gov. Bebe's habit of not being a real Democrat.
That's it.

Let's see if I have this correct: The state supreme court says a state agency cannot do something, so they hire an agency to do it for them. If this is OK, what's to keep them from hiring a hit man or an arsonist?

Well I seem to post when it comes to this particular subject and yet I say again the following:
I am a lesbian
I have a child (naturally many moons ago)
She is in very good standing with her classmates and has no known disabilities from my being 'gay'.
She has her head on 'straight' shall I say....and LOVES boys....so let's not worry about her sexuality.
She's as normal as any other kid out there even ....even more normal shall I guess than those from the religious right's household....
yep....she a good girl...
and I'm raising her....with my partner and she's about as perfect for a teenager as they come these days....

I would foster in a second and do this again....and again and again....if I could, if I could....I know it would turn out all the same....because I'm a pretty good parent (trying not to tout my own horn) but I am.
So Jerry Cox, please come and see me and try to justify your admendment to me...because as I see it....straight people of the religious right section (and God MUST love them more than anyone, even the Jews apparently) really want to abolish freedom, rights for all, free speech, any single thing that isn't under their Christian umbrella beliefs.
I'm glad .....I'M *&^$%&^% HAPPY AT THE FACT that right now....not one single person, or department would dare try to take my child from me for my sexuality...and by the way...I'm having a lot of it ...just rub that in Jerry's face....haha...made a pun....
This thing just makes me made....can't foster a kid when I'm gay...I'm RAISING A MY OWN CHILD AND I'M SO VERY FRICKEN GAY.....

eat that Jerry Cox....man....I'm livid....now I have to go put my flannel on....

hahaha.

Is this the act that allows homosexuals to raise kids?

Give em hell Mallen1! My youngest was talking about a giant gay classmate today when she got home from school. Evidently he's 6ft 5, a monster of a man, funny as hell, gay as can be and has a 2 year old son that he adores.

If I was a tightassed 89 year old Baptist, I'd probably pass out at the thought. But remind me again who set the rules of life on this planet? If there was ever a real world of Ward & June Cleaver...the sucker is long gone. Our families are how we chose to make them! And so be it! Ain't nobody's business if I do!

So hang in there mallen1, give your middle finger to anyone that looks at your family cross eyed. And by the way, a friend of mine whose dead now had an older brother whose job was to conduct medical tests to determine which family member was the best match for a transplant to benefit another family member. The brother was amazed how many upstanding families had a child that was definitely not fathered by the father. In this process many questions were asked and so he was in a position to know that dear old Dad was totally unaware that one of his kids was not like the other kids.

Where is Jerry Cox to punish Muffin for not being conceived of her sweet daddy's sperm? Why do the 1st Methodists of every town allow these bastard children thru the doors yet turn up their nose to you? Enough! As Obama says. Leave us alone! I say.

We all have our good days and bad days. We mess up at times. We have strange ideas at time. You know as well as I do, we do exactly as we please as often as we can get away with it. And let Mr. Cox check back thru history. Homosexuality has been with us forever. Seems to me that makes it as normal as anything else. The human race needs to get over itself.

Lots of misinformation on here...words like "hire" and "money whores" being thrown around.
It is an emotionally charged subject to be sure...made more so with such statements.
The C.A.L.L. receives no money from the state. In fact, it is just the opposite. The C.A.L.L. is recruiting people to foster and adopt children in state custody AT NO CHARGE to the state.
The C.A.L.L. is a private, non-profit organization modeled after similar, successful organizations launched in Colorado, California and Florida to help increase the number of homes available for the overwhelming number of children in state custody. As in those states, The C.A.L.L. works with a state agency desperate for help that would be willing to work with other groups (Jews, Latinos, Kiwanas, Acorn, anybody!) if only such groups would take similar initiative. The C.A.L.L. recruits in Christian churches, so the organization's standard policy agreement should not surprise anyone. And anyone who disagrees with it can choose not to sign it and use DHS provided foster parent training. The C.A.L.L. is just another option available to most, but not all, who desire to help the state overcome what Governor Beebe call's the top priority of his administration.
If you would like more light and less heat, visit www.thecallinarkansas.org.

"Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle." James Otis, Against the Writs of Assistance, 1761.