that B Other by Natalie Wendt Why Arkansas' law matters ans on same-sex marriage weren't the only threats to family diversity that passed into law from the recent elections. Arkansas also banned all unmarried cohabitating couples from adopting or being foster parents. A similar law was already in place in Utah, and Florida had a ban that exclusively targeted gay parents. This hits gay couples hard, along with unmarried heterosexual couples, and it's worse for kids. Arkansas already has 9,000 kids in foster care. Among those, 1,000 children are ready to be adopted today, but many of them have no prospective families to welcome them. Arkansas' rate of foster children "aging out" of foster care has defeat been on the rise over the last decade, with more than two hundred foster kids turning eighteen each year without ever being placed with permanent families. Many spent their childhoods in large state-run group homes instead of with adoptive parents. Foster children have higher rates of drug use, school drop outs, teen pregnancy, and suicide than other kids. Proponents of "married couples only" adoption claim their position is "in the children's best interest." Family Council Action Committee, the group behind the Arkansas law, explain on Arkansas continued on Page 18 8836 Gage Boulevard, Suite 204-A Kennewick, WA 99336 Phone: 509.783.0220 Fax: 509.783.0411 ROTHCOLEMAN.COM PLEASE CALL FOR A CONFIDENTIAL PHONE CONSULTATION SOLID CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE TO THE GLBTQA COMMUNITY ON ESTATE PLANNING MATTERS Wills - Trusts - Powers of Attorney Relationship/Domestic Partnership/Cohabitation Agreements Domestic Partnership Registration - Medicaid Qualification Advice Albert Coke Roth, III, Esquire/email: coke@rothcoleman.com Timothy M. Coleman, Esquire/email: tim@rothcoleman.com | January 2009 | Q View Northwest - Spokane Edition | www.qviewnorthwest.com