Senate Committee Wants Input on Adoption and Foster Care

On Monday, December 3, 2007 the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs will hold a public hearing in Miami to discuss foster care and adoption issues.

The hearing will allow the public to discuss all issues related to foster care or adoption. It is vital that our community have a strong presence at this hearing to share our stories and demand the committee take action. This will be the only opportunity that the South Florida community will have to speak directly to the committee that has the power to end Florida's ban on gay and lesbian adoption.

COLAGE encourages both youth and adults who have or had one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents to speak out. Share stories about how this ban has affected you and your family or just how the homophobia behind the law impacts you. Even if your family wasn't created through foster care or adoption, you can use your experience as a child of LGBTQ parents to raise awareness.

DATE: Monday, December 3, 2007

TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm (Please arrive at 5:30 to sign up to speak)

LOCATION: Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33132
Building 1000 at the corner of NE 2nd Ave. and NE 3rd St.
For Directions.

WHAT you can do:

- PACK THE HOUSE - Please come to the hearing. It is important that we show how many people care about this issue. We believe the voices of youth and adults with LGBTQ parents are especially important. Bring your family and friends.

- TELL YOUR STORY - Please speak at the hearing. Tell legislators how this ban has affected your family, friend, co-worker, etc. Identify yourself as a member of COLAGE and as a person with LGBTQ parents. Each speaker is allowed 2-3 minutes. The legislators will not give rebuttal or make any comments. If you need talking points or encouragement, please contact Meredith Fenton by email.

- GET THE WORD OUT - Please forward this email to all allies in the South Florida area

- VIEW THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE - Please view testimony from the Tampa public hearing to get a sense of some of the stories shared there.

- STAY INFORMED at www.ourchildrensrights.org