State revisits 3-decade ban


By Jim Ash DEMOCRAT CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF



A three-decade ban on gay adoption, a conservative bulwark that sets Florida apart from all other states, crumbled ever so slightly Monday when a Republican committee chairman signaled his willingness to reconsider the policy.
Rep. Bill Galvano of Bradenton, chairman of the Future of Florida's Families Committee, said he would consider scheduling a vote on legislation that would allow gays to adopt children that they are already permitted to nurture as foster parents. Critics say the double standard is bigoted, makes it even harder to find permanent homes for the 3,500 children awaiting adoption in Florida and tears children away from the only loving parents they have ever known.
"There are probably some inconsistencies (in existing law) that will ultimately have to be addressed," Galvano said. "I remain open-minded."
Galvano said he shared the concerns of many of his constituents who were concerned about placing children in nontraditional homes.
But Galvano said he was beginning to have second thoughts after talking to the House sponsor, Rep. Sheri McInvale, R-Orlando, and after listening to impassioned advocates hammer away at the state's contradictory policy. The law dates back to a bitter crusade by former beauty queen and Florida Department of Citrus spokeswoman Anita Bryant, who used her celebrity to lash out at gay-rights supporters in Miami-Dade County.
Florida policymakers remain squeamish, particularly in an election year.Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, sponsor of a companion bill in the Senate, was forced to postpone a vote indefinitely last week when it looked like it would not survive the committee. It officially remains in limbo while she hunts for enough support to risk a committee vote.
Galvano warned supporters not to get their hopes too high. He won't consider a vote in his chamber until he sees more movement from the Senate.
"Forget the issue, and I don't care whatever the bill is, nothing is going to pass unless it has a chance in the other chamber," Galvano said. "I don't want to risk our committee's valuable time on legislation that has no chance of passing."
House Speaker Allen Bense is opposed to the legislation but will not stop his committee chairs from giving it a hearing, a spokesman said. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday he has not studied the legislation.
McInvale said Rich assured her Monday afternoon that she was winning more support in the Senate.
The earliest Galvano's committee could meet is March 8. Gay-rights supporters said Monday they were already planning rallies in the Capitol on March 9 and 10 to coincide with the first week of the legislative session.
"We want to make sure it is on everybody's radar while the session is just beginning," said Brian Winfield, communications director for Equality Florida, a nonprofit group with a paid membership of 1,000 that advocates for gay rights.
Only two other states, Mississippi and Utah, have laws that effectively prohibit gays from adopting. Mississippi bans gay couples from adopting but does not ban gay singles. Utah requires adoptive parents to be married. Only Florida has an iron-clad prohibition.
McInvale said she is already satisfied with the progress, even if the legislation moves no further this year.
"Some people were complaining that it was postponed," she said. "They should be celebrating the fact that it got a hearing in this Republican-led, conservative Legislature."