TN Bill Would Bar Unmarried Couples From Adopting

Tennessee Bill Would Bar Unmarried Couples from Adopting

A new bill has been introduced in the Tennessee general assembly that would prevent any unmarried couple -- gay or straight -- from adopting children in the state.
A new bill has been introduced in the Tennessee general assembly that would prevent any unmarried couple -- gay or straight -- from adopting children in the state.

"I think if you poll a majority of Tennesseans and ask them, they can see that two people who've not objectively, publicly stated a commitment to their relationship put a child at risk of being in an unstable home," said David Fowler, executive director of the conservative Family Action Council of Tennessee.

"This isn't about quality of care. This isn't about the commitment of the parents. This is about a very narrow agenda," Dr. Marisa Richmond, president of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, told the Chattonooga Times Free Press.

Richmond cited the $6 million fiscal note attached to last year's version of the proposed law, which she said was based on an estimated $20,000 cost for each of the roughly 300 children who would be kept in state custody and denied a home because of the restriction.

"We were hoping that, with the budget crisis, they wouldn't reintroduce this bill," she said.

The senate bill, which is sponsored by Republican senator Paul Stanley of Memphis, has been referred to the Senate judiciary committee. (Rhiza Dizon, Advocate.com)

See Tennessee Equality Project