ACLU: An Adoption, 33 Years in the Making

Jan 19th, 2011
Posted by Sam Ritchie, ACLU at 6:14pm


An Adoption, 33 Years in the Making



Earlier today, Martin Gill, his partner and the two young boys they've been foster parenting for the last six years participated in an adoption ceremony in Judge Cindy Lederman's chambers in Miami-Dade County Juvenile Court.

Adoptions happen every day. But what made this particular adoption, with these particular people, in this particular place different from the scores of other adoptions that will be finalized today in courtrooms across the country is that this adoption was 33 years in the making.

On its surface, the circumstances of this family coming together seemed pretty straightforward: Two boys suffering from neglect — both had ringworm and the younger brother had an untreated ear infection — were placed in the caring home of Martin and his partner just before Christmas six years ago. In the Gill home, the boys thrived, recovering not only from the physical ailments they'd had when they arrived, but overcoming the emotional and developmental setbacks they'd suffered as well.

When it became clear that it was not possible to reunite the boys with their birth family, Martin and his partner attempted to adopt the two boys, to make permanent the home and bonds they had forged and provide a stable, loving environment in which the boys could continue to grow. It was hard to imagine any reason why this adoption would not be granted. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights/adoption-33-years-making

:)

nt

So glad for this family - and the families yet to be, and very proud of this judge to overturn a homophobic law.