Court Says Foster Kids Do Fine in Same-Sex Homes

The Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled on June 30th that homosexuals cannot be barred from becoming foster parents because such placement has not been shown to harm children, the Associated Press reported.

In 1999 the Child Welfare Agency Review Board determined that foster kids would be more likely to thrive if placed in a traditional home with a husband and wife.

All seven justices declared that the board's decision to exclude gays from the foster-parenting program inappropriately imposed a moral view. The court also declared that the state Legislature should determine eligibility, not the board.

Associate Justice Donald Corbin said the board showed bias against homosexuals.

"There is no correlation between the health, welfare and safety of foster children," he said, "and the blanket exclusion of any individual who is a homosexual or who resides in a household with a homosexual."