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Paul Ryan has change of heart, now supports gay adoption

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Wisconsin Rep. and former vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan has had a change of heart about gay couples adopting, and now believes that gay people can provide loving homes to children who need families. But the House Republican still adamantly opposes equal marriage, reproductive rights and safe access to abortion care, Medicare and vital services for low-income families, among other things.

So, in effect, Ryan has made himself .001 percent less awful than he was before.

In response to a question about gay rights, Ryan chalked his 1999 vote to ban gay adoption in the District of Columbia to a freshman foible during his first term in Congress:

Adopted son of two gay dads sends video letter to Chief Justice John Roberts

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:53:00 +0000

After National Organization for Marriage chairman John Eastman called families with adopted children -- like those of adoptive dad and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts -- the "second-best" option for children, 12-year-old Daniel Leffew decided to make a video sticking up for them both.

Leffew, the adopted son of two gay dads and no stranger to YouTube thanks to his parents' channel on gay family life, told the chief justice: "You and I both know that family goes deeper than blood." And with an eye toward the high court's decision on California's Proposition 8, the 12-year-old told Roberts that, even though they don't agree on marriage equality, Leffew knows that his family is "just as valuable and worthwhile as any other."

See what else the smart (and judging from the video backdrop, "Star Wars"-loving) preteen had to say here:

Pope Francis on gay rights: His 5 worst quotes

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:08:00 +0000

Pope Francis has been praised for his humility (he picks up his own luggage!), his acceptance of other faiths (he won't insult the Prophet Mohammed in public addresses!) and his "precedent shattering" name choice (more humility!).

But the pontiff who is being hailed as a "new direction" for the Catholic Church is the same-old brand of theological conservative who opposes the ordination of women, abortion and the fundamental rights of gays and lesbians.

In fact, then-Cardinal Jose Bergoglio was a major force against the 2010 move to legalize same-sex marriage in his native Argentina. Though he ultimately failed, Bergoglio used the full weight of the church to crush the measure.

Here, a collection of his very worst quotes on the issue.

1. A Senate vote on gay marriage is a destructive pretension against the plan of God

German court strengthens gay adoption rights

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:06:00 +0000

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's highest court strengthened gay couples' adoption rights in a ruling Tuesday that the country's justice minister greeted as "a historic step."

The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that one member of a civil partnership should be able to adopt the partner's stepchild or adopted child. Until now, they could only adopt a partner's biological child.

Germany has allowed same-sex couples to register civil partnerships that legally fall short of formal marriage since 2001. Unlike many other European countries, including Spain, the Netherlands and, most recently, France and Britain, it hasn't moved toward allowing full gay marriage.

The court ruled on a challenge to the existing rules from a woman who was denied permission to adopt a Bulgarian girl whom her partner had adopted. It ordered the government to draw up new legislation by June 2014.

It said the German constitutional provision that "marriage and the family shall enjoy the special protection of the state," cannot be used to justify ruling out same-sex partners adopting the other partner's adopted child.