Rep. Pete Stark, a California Democrat, has reintroduced the “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” in Congress, with 33 cosponsors. The bill, first introduced in 2009, would forbid agencies that receive federal funds from discriminating in adoption or foster care placement based on the sexual orientation, marital status or gender identity of the potential parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child.

Such legislation would overturn a Utah law that bans individuals in unmarried, cohabiting relationships from adopting or fostering children. Utah is one of two states (the other is Mississippi) with laws that block same-sex couples from adopting children. In Michigan, state court rulings block unmarried couples from jointly petitioning for adoptions. And in other states lacking specific laws, turning down prospective gay and lesbian parents can be accepted practice.

Last month, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a new law that gives preference to married couples in state and private adoptions.

Meanwhile, a half million children live in foster care in the United States and more than 100,000 of them are eligible for adoption. An estimated two million, lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are interested in adopting children, according to a 2007 study by the Williams Institute at UCLA.

“We now spend more than $7 billion per year on a flawed foster care system that doesn’t serve all the children who are in it, and permits discrimination against capable, loving potential parents and children,” Stark said in a statement. “It’s time for a federal fix to this critical child welfare and civil rights issue. Every child deserves the lifelong benefits that come from growing up in a stable home.”

In April, the Arkansas Supreme Court overturned a 2008 law, patterned after Utah’s, that bans unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children. Click here, to read what an ACLU attorney thinks that ruling could mean for Utah.