Date: Sun, 10 Sep 1995 11:33:52 -0700 From: glpcinat@ix.netcom.com (GLPCI - Jim Fagelson) Subject: Alert to pending legislation >>This notice is to alert you of potential legislation that will abridge or >>possible prohibit gay and lesbian individuals and couples from adopting >>children in Washington, D.C. In July, the District of Columbia Appellate >>Court ruled that lesbian and gay couples can again be granted the right to a >>"Second-parent Adoption". This ability was first granted in 1988 and was >>reaffirmed in July 1995. >> >>Each year the Congress of the United States must adopt an Appropriations >>Bill for the District of Columbia before the District is allowed to spend >>their money. In past years, Congress has prevented the enactment of >>domestic partnership and has prevented the District from using its own money >>to fund abortions for poor women. >> >>We have been told by several sources that the Appropriations Committee for >>the District of Columbia will include language that will prevent gays and >>lesbians from adopting in the District. This legislation is being sponsored >>by the "Radical Right" supports in the Congress who have pushed anti-gay >>legislation in the past. They have already told GLPCI and others that >>homosexuals should not be allowed to adopt and that Congress will make sure >>that such actions are stopped in the District of Columbia. >> >>We need your help to inform your congressperson that the District should be >>allowed the same rights as the rest of the United States. >> >>Some statistics: >> >> 50 states allow single parent adoptions; >> >> 48 states allow gays and lesbians to adoption if the courts decide >>that it is in the "best interest of the child"; and >> >> 16 states allow second-parent adoptions >> >>Tell your Congressperson that adoption decisions should be left to the >>Courts who can make an informed decision based upon what is in the "best >>interest of the child" and not political grandstanding. >> >>I have attached the addresses, telephone numbers and E-mail addresses for >>the members of the D.C. Appropriations Committee. Please tell them that the >>best interest of the child can only be determined after careful evaluation >>of all factors that influence an adoption. Let them know that adoption >>should not be subject to political whims. >> >>GLPCI appreciates your help to keep adoption away from political interference. >> >>Jim Fagelson >> >>Attachment Converted: C:\WINDOWS\CONGRESS.TXT >> --=====================_810765353==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="CONGRESS.TXT" James Walsh, R-NY Chairman Room 1330 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-3121 Henry Bonilla, R-TX Room 1427 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4511 202-225-2237 - fax Jack Kingston, R-GA Room 1507 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-5831 202-226-2269 - fax Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-NJ Room 514 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-3121 Mark Neumann, R-WI Room 1725 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-3031 mneumann@hr.house.gov Julian Dixon, D-CA Ranking Minority Room 2252 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-7084 202-225-4091 - fax Richard Durbin, D-IL Room 2463 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-5271 durbin@hr.house.gov Marcy Kaptur, D-OH Room 2104 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-3121 Also include: Eleanor Holmes Norton Room 1424 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-8050 District of Columbia Sub-Committee of House Appropriations Committee Room H-148 The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Thomas Davis, R-VA Room 415 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4960 - fax Tomdavis@hr.house.gov  --=====================_810765353==_--