PI-GRO and the APA Office on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns worked closely with SPSSI to organize a congressional briefing held on Thursday, March 11 on The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 4806).  This important legislation addresses the need to eliminate State and federal policies that prevent the fostering or adoption of children due to a guardian’s sexual orientation.  APA Member Charlotte Patterson, PhD, spoke at this filled-to- capacity event.  Her remarks were very well received and addressed 30 years of research of LGBT parenting and adoption and outcomes for children.  Other event co-sponsors included the Family Equality Council and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.  Additional speakers included:

• Dr. Gary J. Gates, Senior Research Fellow at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law); 

• Uma Ahluwalia, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services for Montgomery County, Maryland; 

• Leslie Cooper, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union; 

• Martin Gill, an adoptive parent, who, along with his partner, has been raising two foster children since 2004 and is currently involved in a lawsuit against Florida's law that automatically denies adoption by gays and lesbians; and 

• an adolescent who was part of the foster care system. 

Representatives Pete Stark (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) made introductory remarks at this timely event.