Date: January 7, 1999
To the Editor,
We are the gay couple who fought the state of New Jersey for gays and lesbians to be treated equally to married heterosexual couples in the matters of foster care and adoption. Our fight was never about advancing gay rights, although it has had a huge success in that area, it was not political. It was quite simple, it was in the best interest of our child and all of the children like him to afford him with the legal rights and responsibilities of two parents be it foster or adopt. So we stood up for our son and others who are voiceless and the most vulnerable, children.
We are good parents who are gay and we are not unique. Sure, the majority of single and coupled gays and lesbians in this country may not have children right now but they CAN make a big positive difference in a child's life. We can and are making a positive difference in overcrowded foster care systems in New Jersey and elsewhere already. Why would Arkansas take these opportunities away from the children who desperately need more hope, more families not less!
In commenting about our victory in New Jersey, Tania Fernandez, Supervisor of the Division of Youth and Family Services, Adoption Services of Passaic County, NJ, stated that in watching the new wave of applicants, she noticed that homosexual couples are more accepting of those unwanted and older children, giving possibilities and hope especially to children over three or four years. Once a child is out of the toddler stage, the chances of adoption decrease substantially, but the new gay couples entering the program want the older children.
Would Arkansas give this same chance up? By opening the pool of prospective parents up you will be giving the "lost" children of Arkansas a greater chance at living rich fulfilling lives with permanent families. Our wish is that the powers that be in the Child Welfare Agency Review Board of Arkansas look into their hearts and do what is in the child's best interest and not in their own political best interest of the moment.
Please don't sell out these children out. They are the future of Arkansas, of America.
Good Luck and God Bless.
Jon and Michael Galluccio
Maywood, NJ
jon@galluccio.com
http://www.galluccio.com