Texas today passed a law banning gay foster parents on the same day that Connecticut passed a la law permitting gay civil unions.
Texas bans gay foster parents (AP)
The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill banning homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals from being foster parents. If the bill gains approval from the Texas Senate, the state will be allowed to investigate the backgrounds of current foster parents and remove children living in non-heterosexual households. All future foster parents will be required to disclose their sexual preference on an application form, a legislative aide said.
Connecticut Approves Civil Unions for Gays (NYT)
Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Wednesday signed into law a measure allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, making Connecticut the second state to approve such unions and the first to do so without pressure from the courts. “I think that it certainly bodes well for Connecticut that we didn’t have to be ordered to do this,” said Mrs. Rell, a Republican, who signed the bill about an hour after the Democratic-controlled Senate approved the measure by a three to one ratio. The House passed the bill last week 85 to 63.
Under the law, which takes effect on Oct. 1, couples in civil unions will essentially have all of the rights and protections the state provides married couples, from tax benefits and insurance coverage to hospital visiting rights to family leave from work.
The law also includes an amendment, added last week, that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Can you guess which is the Red state and which is the Blue state?
