A tree just fell in the forest of deep south prejudice. Did you hear it?

Yesterday, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled UNANIMOUSLY to strike down an Arkansas law banning gays and lesbians from serving as foster parents. Did you read that? The decision was UNANIMOUS. Not bad for a Republican redneck court whose members I'm sure will be immediately labeled "activist" in the very near future, no matter how absurd that would be.

What's interesting about the decision is not that they overturned the law blocking gays from being foster parents, but what they had to say concerning the state's position on child rearing. They found no validity to the arguments made by opponents of gay adoption, stating:

1. Children of lesbian and gay parents are just as well-adjusted as children of heterosexual parents.

2. Being raised by gay parents doesn’t increase the risk of psychological, behavioral, academic, gender identity, or any other sort of adjustment problems.

3. Being raised by gay parents doesn’t prevent children from forming healthy relationships with their peers and others.

4. There is no factual basis for saying that gay parents might be less able to guide their children through adolescence than heterosexual parents.

5. There is no evidence that gay people, as a group, are more likely to engage in domestic violence or sexual abuse than heterosexual people.

6. The exclusion of gay people and people with gay family members may be harmful to children because it excludes a pool of effective foster parents.

The question now becomes, what effect will this ruling have in future court decisions concerning gay adoption and gay marriage where the "children" defense is used?

Already opponents are lining up discrediting the court's decision. Former state Sen. Gunner DeLay, R-Fort Smith, a Republican candidate for attorney general, denounced it saying:

"It seems that the court's action was based on a concern for gay and lesbian couples and not what is in the best interest in the child. The fact is that a child has the best chance of proper development with the presence of a mother and father in the come. This decision shows the important role the next attorney general will play in the critical social questions of our time because this matter will continue to play out in the court."

Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Friday he hopes the Legislature considers reimposing a ban on gay foster parents.

"I'm very disappointed that the court seems more interested in what's good for gay couples than what's good for children needing foster care."

Spineless Arkansas Democrats have remained dutifully silent on the court's decision. Foregoing a chance to take a stand for human rights and equality, current Attorney General Mike Beebe, who is the Democratic Party nominee for governor, though not involved in defending the state regulation before the Supreme Court, had nothing to say concerning the court's decision. And Melissa Moody, a spokeswoman for Democratic attorney general candidate Dustin McDaniel, declined Thursday to comment on the Supreme Court decision but noted that McDaniel voted for a bill during the 2005 legislative session that would have banned gay adoption.

So the fight continues. Being a lesbian myself, it's nice to be recognized as human by the Arkansas Supreme Court. But the truth is that both Republicans and Democrats in Arkansas would rather shoot me and be done with it.

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