Comments on: Tennessee looks at new bid to ban gay couples from adopting

By: Kayla

Kayla — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:08:50 +0000

Well I think this is just bullshit. There are many children out there that need good homes, and its in my experience that gays provide just as good loving homes as straight people. It is sad that there are such closed minded people out there, and that they are using children to spread the hate. Hate is not a family value, remember that

By: John

John — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:01:18 +0000

There were only 11 states in the Confederacy. There are almost fourty with laws prohibiting gay marriage. Homophobia exists outside the South and even in (shock, horror) the blue states. Assholes are assholes no matter where they live. It’s our job to inform them how wrong they are through setting good examples and showing how we are just as capable of forming loving adult relationships and raising children to become responsible and active citizens. It is not our job to denigrate or belittle. Leave that to the haters.

By: Debra

Debra — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:48:19 +0000

Daniel…stop it. Tennessee is doing about as well as the other 38 states with anti-gay measures in their constitutions. You see what you are looking for. If you look for those trying to make a difference for us you will find them. If you look for those doing all they can to destroy us you will find them. Both sides are everywhere. I didn’t catch the part about where you live now, but stop treading on my city. It’s where I live! It’s my home, and we are supposed to be “family” right? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I happen to love Nashville, TN.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:20:06 +0000

Well, my observations from time I spent in Tennessee, is that the LGBT community is not organized. Do you have any statewide agency like we have in Missouri: PROMO, or Equality California in California? My understanding is no, and that is partially to blame for the reason lawmakers think they can do things like this.

By: Myke

Myke — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:59:23 +0000

The only businesses on Church Street are Gay Bars and porn shops. Including Hustler of Hollywood. Not a gay business, but a very big business. There are zero protesters at Gay Pride. There are a few little coffee shops and restaurants but they aren’t supported very well by the gay community. I go anywhere I want and it is very hard to believe that people don’t know that my partner and I are gay.
The businesses on Church street are not “driven” there. The new owners of new businesses select Church Street to help support other gay businesses and because the rents are reasonable. Not because they have to be there.

By: Clark

Clark — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:37:08 +0000

I’m originally from Tennessee, and I moved away from that hateful, bigoted lot to Alaska when I came out 9 years ago. Growing up in those school systems with the backwards beliefs the kids had from their parents was torturous. Even if gay parents can adopt there, it’s a seriously unhealthy environment to raise children in.

Did someone seriously suggest that Nashville doesen’t have demographically dominant’ areas? Every time I visit more and more gay friendly businesses closed and had to relocate to Church street. Its basically their version of the Castro.

All that said, some of the kindest, most gentle souls I’ve ever known are from the south. Kinda strange how a some people can grow up surrounded by nothing but hate and intolerance their whole lives and yet still they wind up being so completely different and understanding of others.

I loved reading in the article how they are attempting to head off lawsuits against discrimination…by drafting more laws that discriminate even more. Kinda like trying to save your hand by amputating at the elbow.

By: Aiden Raccoon

Aiden Raccoon — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:31:58 +0000

What if I adopt a child being single. Then later move in with a partner. I’ve already adopted him. Its over, the child is mine now.

By: steven porter

steven porter — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:14:33 +0000

while the republican conservatives are playing god with every ones lives and telling the gay and lesbian community that they cant adopt i dont see none of them opening up their homes to children who really need it their more worried about what two consenting adults are doing in the bedroom and while we are talking didnt we vote for some of these closet cases seem like to me the people who have a problem with gay and lesbian adoption might be in the closet of their own dirty minds!

By: Myke

Myke — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:17:11 +0000

Rosa L.Parks did not live in Vermont. Nor did Martin Luther King, Or The Lovings from Loving v. Virginia.The Civil Rights movement was fought in the south and with a few exceptions won.

So there is plenty of work to do but the folks down here are familiar with fighting the good fight and not surrendering.

My political district is represented entirely by African American women. My neighborhood Reresentative in the state government has sat on my front porch and discussed issues with me but not until I told her I was gay and that I have been with my partner for 18 years. She told me that she represents all families in the 19th district.
There is bigotry everywhere and it’s convenient for many to put it elsewhere in theory. But I have been more accepted by my neighbors and passing strangers here in Tennessee then I ever was in Manhattan or West Hollywood.
Did I mention the weather is better? So why don’t you all move here and help with the fight. We were the first southern state to rejoin the Union. There are three US Presidents buried within 5 miles of my home. Al Gore lives about 10 minutes up the street. So we may have Toby Keith but we also have Kenny Chesney (snerk).

Despite the fact that I am not interested in raising children I will assist in the fight. For the children. Not for my own rights but for their welfare.
If you read the bill let’s not forget that straight unmarried couples are not wanted as adoptees either.

By: Austin

Austin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:42:24 +0000

I guess, but the truth is that we (gay people) DO live in the South, so just saying “Well fu** the ignorant Southerners” is just really dumb.

The Tennessee Equality Project will hopefully be fighting (AGAIN) this bill. So all of us gay people who live in TN, please look up your TEP, local PFLAG chapter or whatever and get active!!!