News

Gay couples to sue Nebraska to become foster parents

Associated PressAugust 28, 2013

0 140 1 minute read

Same-sex couples Todd Vesely, left, and Joel Busch, right, and Lisa Blakey, second left, and Janet Rodriguez, second right, are two of three same-sex couples who are challenging a Nebraska policy that prevents them from serving as foster parents. Photo: NATI HARNIK / AP PHOTO — Same-sex couples Todd Vesely, left, and Joel Busch, right, and Lisa Blakey, second left, and Janet Rodriguez, second right, are two of three same-sex couples who are challenging a Nebraska policy that prevents them from serving as foster parents.
Photo: NATI HARNIK / AP PHOTO

Three same-sex couples plan to sue Nebraska because they say the state won’t allow them to become foster parents.

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to hold a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss the lawsuit it plans to file on behalf of the gay and lesbian couples.

Tyler Richard with ACLU Nebraska declined to discuss details of the case before the news conference.

Current state policy bans openly gay people and unrelated, unmarried adults who live together from serving as foster parents.

State lawmakers considered a bill earlier this year that would have allowed gay and lesbian couples to serve as foster parents, but that bill failed to advance before the legislative session ended.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services officials didn’t immediately respond to messages Monday.