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‘It is heartening to see that today’s ruling took into account the best interests of the child,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - A Missouri Circuit Court ruled today that in the case of Lisa
Johnston v. Missouri Department of Social Services, the state of Missouri’s actions were “arbitrary and unreasonable” in denying a foster parent licensure based upon the plaintiff’s sexual orientation.

“It is heartening to see that today’s ruling took into account the best interests of the child,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Judge Midkiff joins the position of every reputable, national child welfare association in determining that sexual orientation has nothing to do with one’s parenting abilities.”

The nation's leading children’s health, children’s welfare and mental health organizations have issued statements declaring that a parent's sexual orientation is irrelevant to his or her ability to raise a child. The list includes the American Medical Association (2004), the Child Welfare League of America (1988), the National Association of Social Workers (2002) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (2002).

“Recent polling shows the overwhelming majority of Missourians believe that gay and lesbian parents should be able to provide a needy child with a stable and secure home,” said Solmonese. “The simple fact is that today’s ruling mirrors the values and beliefs of the people of Missouri.”

A statewide poll conducted by Hart Research in November 2005 for HRC and PROMO, Missouri’s statewide organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality, conclusively found that Missouri voters believe gay and lesbians are fit to serve as parents. Some of the key findings in the poll include:

• Eighty-four percent say that the state should not remove children from someone’s care simply because that person is gay or lesbian;

• Sixty-one percent say if it were up to them, they would allow gays and lesbians to adopt children in some circumstances;

• Three in four (73 percent) voters favor taking adoptions by gays and lesbians on a case-by-case basis, based upon what is in the child’s best interest, rather than simply banning all adoptions by gays and lesbians;

• Only 26 percent of voters believe that the state should simply ban all adoptions by gays and lesbians.

“The ACLU, with the support of PROMO, should be applauded for standing on the side of the majority of the people of Missouri and making sure this couple could provide a nurturing home for a child they deeply love and care about,” concluded Solmonese.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.