2007-26425 Reso
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-26425
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
ABOLISH THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ADOPTION BY
HOMOSEXUALS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, the State of Florida is the only state in the United States which expressly
prohibits homosexuals from adopting children; and
WHEREAS, Florida's ban on adoption by homosexuals in Chapter 63 of the Florida
Statutes has existed for almost 30 years and is an out-dated vestige of a 1977 movement to
discriminate against gay and lesbian individuals; and
WHEREAS, there is no evidence that children of gay or lesbian parents are harmed
because of their parents' sexual orientation; to the contrary, The American Psychological
Association has concluded that "home environments provided by gay and lesbian parents are as
likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children's psychosocial
growth;" and
WHEREAS, in 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics commissioned a study which
concluded that "[m]ore than 25 years of research has documented that there is no relationship
between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and
behavioral adjustment" and that data demonstrates "no risk to children as a result of growing up
in a family with 1 or more gay parents;" and
WHEREAS, in view of the lack of evidence to support the conclusion that children of
gay or lesbian parents are any less likely to grow up as happy, healthy, and well-adjusted as
children of heterosexual parents, there is no rational basis or moral justification to continue
Florida's ban on adoption by gay and lesbian individuals; and
WHEREAS, since the Florida ban was enacted, public opinion indicates that there is
greater acceptance and support for adoption by members of the gay and lesbian community; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that the total number of children nationwide living with at
least one gay parent ranges from 6 to 14 million and that, within the State of Florida alone, more
than 5,000 children are now in foster care available for adoption; and
WHEREAS, there is a critical shortage of adoptive and foster parents in the United
States, as well as within the State of Florida, which results in many children not having a
permanent home despite the availability of qualified adoptive gay and lesbian individuals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Florida Legislature
is hereby urged to abolish the restriction against homosexual adoption contained in the Florida
Statutes and that the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to Florida
Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt, and Florida House Speaker Marco
Rubio.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th
ATTEST:
lJkr PM~
CITY CLERK
Robert Parcher
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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F:\atto\TURN\RESOS\gayadoption.doc
2
~ MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager
Cc: Jose Smith, City Attorney
Robert Parcher, City Clerk
DATE:
January 2, 2007
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FROM:
David Dermer, Mayor
SUBJECT: Resolution
Please place the proposed Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to abolish the prohibition
against adoption by homosexuals in the State of Florida on the January 17 Commission agenda
for discussion.
V'v'e ore committed to prUY'iciing (:.~xcel!enf public service and sofei'y' to cd! who jive, \'\1'ork.. and play in our
Agenda Item R9L-
Date I-I '}-o,?
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City of Miami leach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachA.gov
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, Robert Parcher, City Clerk
TEL: (305) 673-7411, FAX: (3051 673-7254
January 18,2007
Honorable Governor Charlie Crist
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Re: Resolution No. 2007-26425
Honorable Governor Charlie Crist:
Please find enclosed an executed copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-
26425, which was unanimously adopted by the Miami Beach City Commission on
January 17, 2007. Resolution No. 2007-26425 urges the Florida Legislature to abolish
the restriction against homosexual adoption contained in the Florida Statutes.
Should you have any questions regarding this resolution, please contact me at any time at
(305) 673-7411.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
I"ltu.r ~ p~{~
Robert E. Parcher
City Clerk
Enclosure: City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-26425
cc: Mayor David Dermer
Vice Mayor Simon Cruz
Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower
Commissioner Michael Gongora
Commissioner Saul Gross
Commissioner Jerry Libbin
Commissioner Richard Steinberg
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
We ore commiffed to providing excellent public service and safety to 01/ who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, histoflc community
tD
......
City of Miami leach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachA.gov
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, Robert Parcher, City Clerk
TEl: (305) 673.7411, FAX: (305) 673-7254
January 18, 2007
Honorable Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt
Room 312
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Re: Resolution No. 2007-26425
Honorable Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt:
Please find enclosed an executed copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-
26425, which was unanimously adopted by the Miami Beach City Commission on
January 17, 2007. Resolution No. 2007-26425 urges the Florida Legislature to abolish
the restriction against homosexual adoption contained in the Florida Statutes.
Should you have any questions regarding this resolution, please contact me at any time at
(305) 673-7411.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
/0kuc ~'tl~
Robert E. Parcher
City Clerk
Enclosure: City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-26425
cc: Mayor David Dermer
Vice Mayor Simon Cruz
Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower
Commissioner Michael Gongora
Commissioner Saul Gross
Commissioner Jerry Libbin
Commissioner Richard Steinberg
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
We ore committed 10 providing excellent public service and sofety to 01/ who live, work, and ploy in our vibrant, tropical, historic community
tD
......
city of Miami leach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeochA.gov
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, Robert Parcher, City Clerk
TEl: (3051673.7411, FAX: (305) 673-7254
January 18,2007
Honorable Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Re: Resolution No. 2007-26425
Honorable Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio:
Please find enclosed an executed copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-
26425, which was unanimously adopted by the Miami Beach City Commission on
January 17, 2007. Resolution No. 2007-26425 urges the Florida Legislature to abolish
the restriction against homosexual adoption contained in the Florida Statutes.
Should you have any questions regarding this resolution, please contact me at any time at
(305) 673-7411.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ltu\~f.?tl{~
Kobert E. Parcher
City Clerk
Enclosure: City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2007-26425
cc: Mayor David Dermer
Vice Mayor Simon Cruz
Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower
Commissioner Michael Gongora
Commissioner Saul Gross
Commissioner Jerry Libbin
Commissioner Richard Steinberg
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
We ore commilted to providing excellent public service ond sofety to 01/ who live, work, ond ploy In our vibrant, troplCOI, histOriC community