“We
firmly believe that protecting the best interests of a child should be
one of the highest priorities in the practice of matrimonial law,” said
Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich,
president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. “The Academy
urges every State to support legislation that ensures equal treatment of
all qualified parents, which would help to ultimately place more foster
children in permanent homes.”
In
all, the Academy’s resolution calls for States to create or alter
policies in order to ensure that the best interests of children in
foster care override any form
of discriminatory treatment of potential parents that might be based
upon gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition, the AAML will
be working with its State Chapters to help further support measures that
can close adoption shortage gaps, which may
have been worsened by any discriminatory approval practices.
The AAML Resolution Against Discriminatory Practices In The Placement Of Foster Care & Adoption has been posted on the group’s website at:
www.aaml.org.
It has been crafted by the AAML LGBT Committee, which is dedicated to
helping same-sex couples and families overcome the many challenges that
they continue to experience.