U.S. Senator Larry Craig and the Arkansas Family Council

In the wake of a conviction of U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) for activity involving an apparent homosexual act, it's obvious that he would be ineligible to adopt a child in this state under the plans being put forth by the Arkansas Family Council. The main point of this post is to determine how a law to prohibit homosexuals from adopting or foster parenting is to be enforced. The goal of their plan is obvious -- the proposals submitted by them to achieve the goal are more suspect.

In the most recent legislative session, SB959 would've prevented homosexuals from adopting or acting as foster parents. One of the problems I had with the legislation is its enforcement and the fact that the Family Council didn't give us any direction on the definition of a homosexual. Of course, I'm pretty sure what one is, but does it include single acts like in the Senator Craig example (well, one act that we know of)? What if the person denies being a homosexual? Senator Craig told the Idaho Statesman that he'd never engaged in a homosexual act. If we simply take one's word for it, Senator Craig would be eligible to adopt as many children as he'd like here.

Last week, the Family Council submitted a proposed initiated act (click here for the document) to the Attorney General that would prohibit unmarried cohabiting couples from adopting or acting as foster parents. They were quoted in the statewide media as saying that the goal is to prohibit homosexual couples or couples living in sin from adopting or foster parenting. Since Senator Craig is married, he would again be eligible for adopting a child in Arkansas. I understand the goal of the Family Council. I'm simply asking for them to put forth a plan to accurately achieve this goal without letting the Larry Craigs of the world slip through. At that point, the people of Arkansas can determine whether or not to prohibit homosexuals (or unmarried cohabiting couples) from acting as parents.