From: PFLAG Subject: PFLAG News Release: AR PFLAG Dad in Lawsuit Against Ban on Gay/Lesbian Foster Parents Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 16:51:21 -0400 * * * PFLAG News Release * * * For Immediate Release April 6, 1999 Arkansas PFLAG Father is Plaintiff in Lawsuit Against Ban on Gay/Lesbian Foster Parents A father of a gay son is a plaintiff in a new lawsuit filed today in Little Rock, AR, challenging a state policy that bans heterosexuals who live with gays and lesbians, as well as gays and lesbians themselves, from being foster parents. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG ) member Bill Wagner, would have to eject his 18-year-old son from their Fayetteville, AR, home if he or his wife wants to serve as a foster parent, according to the April 6 lawsuit. It was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Wagner and five others against the state's Child Welfare Agency Review Board and its Dept. of Human Services. A full statement by Wagner, made at an April 6 news conference in Little Rock, is also available. "As a father, I believe that every child has a right to a loving, suppo rtive family," Wagner said. "This ban would deny that right to the children of Arkansas. And that is a tragedy. Many children in this state will suffer." "Don't jeopardize the well-being of thousands of children in our state by denying them the opportunity to be cared for by responsible, loving parents who make wonderful mothers and fathers," said Wagner. He and his wife of 26 years have provided emergency shelter to gay teens, and hope to serve as foster parents in the near future. The Arkansas ban puts a "significant burden" on Wagner's relationship with his son, the lawsuit charges. Because the ban forces Wagner to choose between his gay son and prospective foster children in need of a home, it "would substantially interfere with the parent-child relationship between Wagner and his son," according to the complaint. PFLAG Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon stressed that adoptive and foster parents "should be selected on their proven ability to be good parents -- not on the basis of sexual orientation." "The privilege to adopt or become a foster parent should be determined based on the best interests of the child by parents and professionals, on a case-by-case basis," Kingdon said. "We don't need politicians nor their appointees to tell us what makes a good family," she said. PFLAG is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization which includes more than 75,000 households of parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family members and friends of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. There are three PFLAG affiliates in Arkansas alone, among more than 425 nationwide. An additional four PFLAG affiliates are now in the process of being established in Arkansas. Members of PFLAG testified before the state welfare board on the issue several times since the policy was first introduced in June 1998. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy. PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Serving more than 75,000 members, PFLAG affiliates are located in 425+ communities across the U.S. and abroad. ### 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 1030 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 638-4200 / Fax: (202) 638-0243 E-mail: info@pflag.org Web: http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from PFLAG Alert list, send email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~