FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC, March 1, 2014 – Family Equality Council, the national organization which connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer in the United States and their six million children of all ages, today strongly denounced Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes for urging judges in that state to reject adoption applications submitted by same-sex couples. A federal judge ruled Utah’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional last December. Only married couples can jointly adopt in Utah. Almost 1,400 same-sex couples got married before that decision was stayed, pending appeal, and many are now applying for adoption protections for their children. Reyes’ memo will make it more difficult for those couples to legally adopt their own children. “It’s outrageous that Utah’s Attorney General is pushing judges to deny loving, committed couples the adoption protections they need to take care of their families,” said Executive Director, Gabriel Blau. “Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s claim that the U.S. District Court ruling overturning the marriage ban ‘created a chaotic situation’ for the state is bogus. The Governor and Attorney General Reyes are the people creating chaos by refusing to recognize the jurisdiction of the courts and directing judges to ignore the best interests of children in making adoption determinations.”
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Contact: Cindi Creager
646-279-4559 | cindi@creagercole.com