Date: Mon, 13 Mar 1995 12:07:01 -0500 From: Chris Hagin To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: Wilson Reverses New State Policy Allowing Gay Adoptions FROM WIRE SERVICE REPORTS Date: Sun, 12 Mar 1995 Wilson Reverses New State Policy Allowing Gay Adoptions SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Pete Wilson, looking to shore up his conservative credentials as he eyes a presidential run, has reversed a new state policy allowing adoptions by gay and lesbian couples. Wilson acted after learning that details of the policy were to be published a Sacramento Bee column on Sunday, spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said. Goodman described the adoption policy, enacted three months ago by Social Services Director Eloise Anderson, as ``a huge overstep.'' He directed Anderson to restore a previous policy that banned adoptions by any unmarried couples, saying he was unaware of the new adoption directive. ``It was not approved by the governor's staff,'' Goodman said Saturday. Wilson last year vetoed a domestic partners bill that would have given legal standing to gay and lesbian relationships. The bill would, he said, ``discount marriage'' during a time when government policies should ``encourage and reward marriage and the formation of strong families.'' But the new policy, issued in a directive to local adoption and welfare agencies in December, said that ``a stable and permanent home'' is best for adoptive children. The new policy also made it easier for a lesbian couple to effect a ``limited consent adoption'' of a child borne by one of the two. The policy rescinded one that had been adopted by the Deukmejian administration in 1987, barring adoptions by unmarried couples in favor of couples ``who have formalized their relationship through a legal marriage reflect this desired commitment.'' The gay rights unit of the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the 1987 policy. The led to a department review, internal debates and finally the new policy, the Bee reported. Warm regards, S. CHRISTOPHER HAGIN Atlanta 1996 chagin@atlanta.com HATE IS NOT A FAMILY VALUE