State Drops Appeal in Lesbian Couple Adoption Case

The state’s appeal of a court decision letting a lesbian couple adopt a foster child has been dropped now that Governor Matt Blunt has signed a bill repealing the law banning sexual contact between two people of the same sex. The Attorney General says the new law makes the court case moot. The Social Services Department has objected to dropping the appeal. A spokesman says it will quickly write a new rule dealing with foster care licensing and how gay applicants are to be treated. The Department had cited the same-sex sexual contact law as a primary reason for denying the lesbian couple a chance to adopt a child, saying one of the women was not of reputable character – although she has a degree in human and family development, with a specialty in children.