FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Corri Planck
(323) 848-8804
corri.planck@familypride.org

DISCRIMINATORY MEASURE FILED IN OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Would Ban LGBT People from Adopting, Serving as Foster Parents 

Washington, DC, Feb. 13, 2006 – Family Pride today condemned the introduction of House Bill 515 in the Ohio House of Representatives. If passed, the measure would prohibit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – and those who live with them – from adopting or serving as foster parents in Ohio

“Child welfare and respected professional organizations are clear in their opposition to these types of measures,” said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Pride, the onlynational nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to securing equality for LGBT parents and their families. “This measure does nothing to serve the best interests of Ohio children. This bill takes important child welfare decisions out of the hands of professionals, and only brings harm to Ohiochildren and families. We commend House Speaker Jon Husted’s office for calling this what it is – ‘divisive legislation.’”

There are currently more than 22,000 children in foster care in Ohio .

“Family Pride will continue to work with our partners, including Equality Ohio, to help defeat this anti-LGBT, anti-family measure,” Chrisler said. “Nothing less than the lives of Ohio’smost vulnerable children are at stake.”

For more information about Family Pride, go to www.familypride.org or call (202) 331-5015.

The Family Pride Coalition is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families.