From the Blogs

The latest stories from the Florida blogs about the Hate Agenda.

Bilerico Project Florida: Acceptance is Key to Combating LGBTQ Youth Suicide

Shakesville: Feminism 101: On Language and the Commodification of Sex Via Humor

Shakesville: Feminism 101: Girl Math

Open Left: Exposing Colorblind Racism Right Here At Open Left

Open Left: The "State of the Dream" & The 30-Years Conservative Nightmare

Pam's House Blend: The Unity of All Women: Horizontal Feminism

Shakesville: It Looks Like We're Going to Have a Mansplainer Thread After All

Think Progress: Report: States passed more pro-LGBT bills in 2009 than in the previous two years combined

Pam's House Blend: Cisgender And Cissexual Terminology - A Get-Along-Go-Along Moment

Shakesville: Some Simple Steps to Being Trans* Inclusive: Part I (Understand Cis* Privilege)

Shakesville: Rape Culture 101

Shakesville: Some Simple Steps to Being Trans* Inclusive: Part II (How To Make Your Organization Accessible and Safe for Trans* Individuals)

Pam's House Blend: Video: Women Bloggers Found: Has Feminist Blogging Gone Mainstream?

Shakesville: Feminism 101: Objectifying Women Doesn't Show How Much You Love Them; It Shows How Much You Hate Them

Shakesville: We Write Letters: Stop Sexist Op-Ed Practices

Pam's House Blend: Racial dialogue can be a walk in a mine-field...but it's worth it.

Shakesville: How Feminism Works

Shakesville: Feminism 101: On Anger

Shakesville: The Blindness of Privilege

Shakesville: Feminism 101: "Sexism is a Matter of Opinion"

Shakesville: Feminism 101: How are we supposed to take feminist bloggers seriously if they post about shoes?

Shakesville: Feminism 101: Feminism and Humanism

Shakesville: Feminism 101: Periods

Shakesville: Important Announcement

An Old Person's Guide to "No Homo"

Conniving and Sinister

(From Shakesville)

Mallory Wells - Florida Competitive Workforce Act Senate Workshop

Rachel On The Extremist Fringe Of The GOP

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(Via Smooth Like Remy)

Conniving and Sinister

Rep. Mary Brandenburg Proposes Repeal of Adoption Ban

More than 2,000 children in Florida are awaiting adoption, and half of them have no family members able to provide them care. House Bill 3 by Representative Mary Brandenburg (D-Lake Worth) would give more foster children an opportunity for a family and a home by repealing the ban on adoptions by same-sex couples and individuals.

“Some children in Florida have been in foster care for years,” said Representative Brandenburg. “This is unacceptable. Every child in Florida deserves a loving, permanent home. That is why I filed a bill that repeals the state law that prohibits gay and lesbian people from adopting.”

It is well understood, and confirmed by pediatricians and child psychologists, that children thrive as part of a family. Happy, successful children can be raised by all kinds of families, including those headed by single parents, grandparents, and same-sex couples. In contrast, children stuck in foster homes are more likely to drop out of school, become teen-age parents, and face trouble with the law.

The ban on adoption by gays and lesbians costs the State of Florida approximately $2.5 million per year, according to the Williams Institute.

“When the Florida Legislature is struggling to meet the medical and education needs of our children, this ban makes no sense,” said Representative Brandenburg. “When the Florida Department of Children and Families allows gay and lesbian people to serve as foster parents, it becomes impossible to understand the ban.”

Florida is the only state with a statutory ban against same-sex individuals or couples adopting. Representative Brandenburg’s House Bill 3 would give many more foster children the opportunity for a family and a home. Senator Nan Rich (D-Sunrise) has filed identical legislation in the Florida Senate.

“This bill is about children’s rights,” added Representative Brandenburg. “It is about their right to become part of a family.”