A White House Easter Message to End Gay Adoption Bans
Each year, the sitting U.S. President hosts an Easter egg hunt on the grounds of the White House, bringing together families from around the country for some colored eggs, baskets and bunnies. And though it sounds like a simple and cute event, it's actually the largest public event that the White House holds each year, bringing 30,000 people total from around the country to attend.
This year, the White House Easter Egg Roll takes on extra significance for LGBT families. And it's not just that there will be LGBT families in attendance -- that's happened for quite some time, even under George W. Bush's administration. It's that this year, one of the families invited is at the center of historic litigation in Florida, challenging the state's ban on LGBT adoption.
Introducing Martin Gill, the North Miami man who is fighting the state of Florida so that he can adopt two young brothers -- two children that he and his partner have been providing foster care to for years. In November 2008, a judge ruled that the state of Florida had no right to refuse Gill's attempt to adopt the two children, essentially labeling as unconstitutional a Florida ban on gay adoption that has been termed the worst adoption law in the country. The case is on appeal, as Florida's Third District Court of Appeals prepares to weigh in with a ruling.
But the White House isn't waiting for a decision in order to place their bets. By inviting Gill and his family to this year's Easter Egg Hunt, the Obama administration has definitely sent a message to the state of Florida: you're hurting children by preventing LGBT folks from adopting.
"Inviting us, knowing that we are plaintiffs in this lawsuit, sends a pretty strong statement," Gill said of the White House's decision to invite his family. "It's extremely gratifying. What we've been through in the state of Florida has been somewhat of an ordeal."
The Easter Egg Roll this year actually falls the day after Easter. And it's not just the presence of Gill and his family that is shaking things up. Nope, in addition to sending an administrative message on LGBT adoption, the White House is also using the Easter Egg Roll to tackle another huge issue -- childhood obesity. It's all part of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move! Initiative," a campaign geared toward providing kids the resources they need to live healthy and active lives.
Good food. Good exercise. Good chefs. And a prominent invite to the family at the forefront of the fight to end Florida's unjust ban on gay adoption. Now that's how you say "Happy Easter!"
(Check out an NBC Miami story on Martin Gill's case here.)
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