Wednesday, the LGBT advocacy group Campaign for Southern Equality filed suit against the state of Mississippi challenging the state law that prohibits same-sex couples from adopting children.
The law, adopted by the Legislature in 2000, is unconstitutional, the suit asserts.
It requires no legal expertise to realize this is a valid argument.
Mississippi remains the only state where same-sex adoption is banned. Every other state has either dropped its ban or had its laws overturned through the courts.
The tenuous argument supporting such bans disappeared in June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutionally-protected right to marry.
The court’s ruling means same-sex couples have all of the rights and privileges marriage affords. The right to adopt children certainly fits within that framework.
What’s more, statistics show that 29 percent of gay couples in Mississippi already have children in their homes; that’s a higher rate than any other state in the nation.
Meanwhile, Mississippi’s foster-care program continues to be in violation of federal guidelines, a charge the state has not disputed.
While opponents argue children raised in same-sex homes are at risk of psychological damage, those who work most closely with children — pediatricians, psychologists and social workers — assert there is no evidence to support that claim. Virtually all of their studies confirm that no distinction can be made between children raised by same-sex couples and those raised by heterosexual couples.
Even some who remain opposed to same-sex adoptions recognize the futility of fighting the suit. Among that group is Gary Chism, R-Columbus, who proudly touts his conservative credentials. Asked about the suit, Chism said that while he still opposes same-sex adoptions, the Legislature should remove the ban when it convenes in January because there remains no legal basis to keep it.
Despite all of the compelling arguments for lifting the ban on same-sex adoptions, Gov. Phil Bryant remains obstinately opposed, instructing state attorney general Jim Hood to fight the suit.
But the governor’s position is futile, pointless and a waste of whatever taxpayer money required to wage a legal battle.
The only logical step is for the state to immediately drop any challenge to the suit and officially change in the law when the Legislature goes into session in January.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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