As gay-rights advocates and religious groups queue up in an effort to influence the outcome of a Miami appeals court case that will help decide whether gay people can adopt children in Florida, a state lawmaker has quietly introduced two bills that could render the dispute moot.
State Sen. Nan Rich, a Weston Democrat who is co-chair of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee, has filed a bill to repeal the 1977 Florida law that prohibits gay men and lesbians from adopting children. A second bill would specify that judges would determine adoptions based solely on "the best interests" of children.
"Someone who is a good parent -- whether they are heterosexual or homosexual -- that's what we should be basing decisions on, not sexual orientation,'' Rich said. "We need to be looking at what's in the best interests of children.''
Sen. Ronda Storms, a Republican from Brandon who chairs the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee, would not discuss the bills at length with a reporter. "I'm considering it," she said.
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