I support the HB71 Adoption Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Timothy D. Hawkes, because it puts the children’s safety and well-being above all. However, a certain section should be redacted to broaden the description of what is deemed a legally married couple.

Instead of stating that the child-placing agency shall place the child with a man and woman who are married to each other, it should state that the child shall be placed with either a man and man, woman and woman, or person and person who are married to each other. It is important to create these types of subsections to include all types of legal marriages. I am a man legally married to a man and I want my marriage as well as other same-sex marriages to be considered a beneficial family structure for the children.

Research and data from the American Psychological Association in 2005 stated that “not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect related to children of heterosexual parents.” I hope my concern with this bill will be taken into consideration for the equality of all who want to adopt and for the children in need of loving parents.

Joshua Hall, Salt Lake City