Kentucky judge says he will not hear adoption cases involving gay parents
A Kentucky judge has said he will not hear any adoption cases involving gay parents.
Judge Mitchel Nance, a family court judge, ruled out presiding cases which involved hopeful gay parents because he believes that “under no circumstance” would “the best interest of the child be promoted by the adoption by a practicing homosexual”.
Nance disqualified himself from judging these cases by using an ethical clause that insists any practicing judge must remove themselves from a case if they have any personal prejudice or bias.
This means that any gay parents looking to adopt in the Barren and Metcalfe counties of Kentucky will have to request a special judge.
The judge explained that he hoped by doing this cases involving gay parents would not be filed within his court and therefore help to “avoid long delays”.
John T. Alexander, a circuit judge, has insisted that he would hear any adoption cases which are impacted by the move.
Same-sex couple were permitted to adopt legally in all 50 states last year after Mississippi’s ban was deemed unconstitutional and was lifted.
However, the South Dakota senate just passed a bill to legalise anti-LGBT discrimination with adoption.
The bill, SB149, was passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee earlier this year.
It has been heavily criticised by human rights advocates, who say it equates to a “license to discriminate” based on LGBT+ status.
It could also lead to agencies refusing to provide mental or medical health care to LGBT+ children.
