American Foundation for Equal Rights

Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Adoption for Gay and Lesbian Couples

For Immediate Release

Press Contacts
Amanda Crumley: 213-785-5368
Brandon Hersh: 202-412-9766

Los Angeles, CA – In response to today’s unanimous decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court to strike down Act 1, a 2008 voter-approved initiative that would have banned gay and lesbian couples from adopting or serving as foster parents, Chad Griffin, Board President for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, issued the following statement:

“As a native Arkansan, I am proud that a unanimous Arkansas Supreme Court struck down an initiative that would have prevented gay and lesbian couples from adopting or serving as foster parents. This decision is another milestone in the growing judicial and public consensus supporting the full equal rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

“Nationwide polling shows that a majority of the public now supports the freedom to marry, Congress has lifted the ban on gay and lesbian service in the military, and the federal court has ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

“This is a great day for families in Arkansas and for the entire country.”