Dear Representative,

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R 3827) was introduced in U.S. Congress on October 2009 and was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. It is our hope that you will do the right thing and support this essential piece of legislation as a way to find more homes for children living in the welfare system. H.R. 3827 would prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on the sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status of any prospective adoptive or foster parent. Utah, Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Mississippi all have laws that explicitly ban or restrict adoptions by same-sex parents, and a dozen or so more states are considering or have considered similar laws. In addition, the issue goes well beyond state laws and, in some cases, same-sex parent adoptions are denied or delayed by individual agencies, judges, or social workers. Their are 25,000 kids who mature out of foster care every year and do not have adoptive or permanent homes to reside in. The results are a tragedy because these kids don't do better in their everyday lives when compared to the majority of kids who have good foster or adoptive care. More than 129,000 children are also waiting for an adoptive home or permanent placement, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly all mainstream organizations that advocate for children, including the Child Welfare League of America, the American Psychological Association, and the American Bar Association all support adoption and foster parenting by qualified unmarried and gay and lesbian parents. We commend Representative Fortney Stark (CA-13) for introducing this vital bill and those who valiantly cosponsor and support this legislation. We urge all members of Congress to support this long overdue legislation—and to reach out to other members of Congress. When young lives never find a permanent family they can end up becoming homeless, finding themselves in the prison system, and/or suffer mental and substance abuse. Passing the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827) is a step in the right direction towards righting this tremendous wrong we have committed against our youth through not taking decisive action sooner. We hope you will think of the countless youth who need loving, responsible adults who can adopt them. Please, support and vote for the passage of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827). Respectfully,

[Your name here]