For the last four years, Martin Gill and his partner have been raising two foster children in their North Miami home. The brothers, now age four and nine, have thrived in Martin and his partner's care. After the parental rights were terminated in 2006, Martin and his partner hoped to adopt the children. Since 1977, however, the state of Florida, while allowing gay and lesbian couples to serve as foster parents, has automatically banned adoptions by gay people.
With the help of the ACLU, Martin is challenging this ban, and last November a juvenile court judge granted the adoption. The case is not settled yet though because Florida's attorney general immediately appealed the lower court's decision. Fortunately for now, the brothers remain in Martin and his partner's care.