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wrote the majority opinion, concluding that under the act, “the exercise of one’s fundamental right to engage in private, consensual sexual activity is conditioned on foregoing the privilege of adopting or fostering children. The choice imposed on cohabiting sexual partners, whether heterosexual or
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The ruling had the effect of same-sex couples being able to adopt in
Arkansas for the first time. Prior to the act, same-sex couples were not permitted to jointly adopt as state law did not allow for it. Thus, the ruling made Arkansas one of the first few states to recognize adoptions by same-sex
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On
November 4, 2008, Arkansas voters passed "Act 1" prohibiting unmarried couples from jointly adopting. The law disproportionately targeted gay couples, as they could not marry in the state at the time. On December 30, 2008, plaintiffs Sheila Cole amongst others filed a lawsuit in Pulaski County
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homosexual, is dramatic. They must choose either to lead a life of private, sexual intimacy with a partner without the opportunity to adopt or foster children or forego sexual cohabitation and, thereby, attain eligibility to adopt of foster.” The court, like the court below it, relied upon
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On April 7, 2011, the
Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the lower court's ruling. The court determined that the fundamental right to privacy was being infringed upon, and thus the court applied heightened scrutiny in finding Act 1 unconstitutional. Justice
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Almost four years exactly after Judge Piazza struck down
Arkansas' ban on adoption, he struck down the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage as well. His ruling was not affirmed by the state Supreme Court before the
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The prohibition of unmarried couples from adoption infringed on the privacy rights of unmarried opposite, and same-sex couples found in the
Arkansas Constitution.
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and others seeking to declare the statute unconstitutional. The plaintiffs contended that the act violated
Articles 2, Section 2 and Section 15 of the
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in finding a fundamental right to privacy, which Act 1 infringed upon by forcing unmarried adults to choose between adopting children and that right.
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Circuit Court struck down Act 1, ruling that it violated the
Arkansas state constitutions' guarantee of right to privacy. Piazza cited
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concerning the adoption rights of unmarried couples. On April 7, 2011, the
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The
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Law declared unconstitutional, injunction issued against enforcement
389:"Judge Chris Piazza invalidates Arkansas's same-sex marriage ban"
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323:"Arkansas Passes Ban on Same-Sex Couples Adopting Children"
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Articles II, Section II and XV of the
Arkansas Constitution
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ruled Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
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Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
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335:from the original on November 13, 2022
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482:LGBTQ adoption in the United States
331:. American Civil Liberties Union.
302:Supreme Court of the United States
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462:Adoption law in the United States
321:Cates, Paul (November 5, 2022).
258:Circuit Court Opinion and Appeal
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333:Archived
328:ACLU.org
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