Letter to my representative

Dear Senator Taylor and Governor Brewer,

Please do not take away the opportunity for a loving family from children in need of homes; vote NO on HB 2148.

As a child I was very aware that there were more children needing homes than there were parents and families to adopt them. I never wanted to have children unless I adopted them. In college I was fortunate to rent a room from a single mother who had two beautiful adopted children. They had been adopted when she was married to her husband, but soon after, he left them and she became the best single mother you have ever seen. We held a single parents of adopted children group in our home, and I met many wonderful parents who made sure their children had positive influence from parents of the opposite gender as their adoptive parent. It made it clear to me that just because someone is married when they adopt a child, is no guarantee they will be forever, and it takes a village to raise a child.

Research shows us that single parents and unmarried couples can be just as effective and loving as married couples. Additionally, the U.S. Children's Bureau found that single women are more likely than married couples to adopt minority children and older children from foster care. Now more than ever, we need to be expanding adoption opportunities and working to place as many children as possible in loving, supportive homes.

Again, please vote NO on HB 2148 and stand against adoption discrimination.