I applaud the reporter for getting a copy of the transcript and reporting on this closed hearing. I would have liked a link to the transcript so that I could have had access to more than was provided in this article. I would have liked a summary of the legal grounds argued to reverse the law. (And to reverse the prior court ruling upholding the law--see Lofton ruling to which I''ve linked. ) I would have liked some statistics on gay adoptions in other states, but according to an earlier USA Today article (see link) state and federal governments don't keep such statistics. The census, however, has been studied by Gary Gates at UCLA, who found that "An estimated one in four same-sex couple households report children under age ... More »

Thoroughly and fairly sets up the debate over same-sex adoption in a state that prohibits it. Strong, meticulously balanced trial reporting. Could have been broadened by seeking input from more people not involved in the proceedings. Otherwise well reported and detailed.

The author does a reasonably good job of showing that two witnesses who testified against adoption by gay and lesbian parents are well outside the mainstream of accepted social science.

This is a local case with implications for the entire state of Florida. It employs substantial information from both sides of the argument without editorializing. The depth of this local reporting is rare and should be encouraged.

When the dissenting expert says the other guy cooked the data, it would have been interesting to have independent statistics presented to check the competing claims. Overall, Miller seems to have done a good job of presenting the two sides in the case and the overall context.

This enterprising reporter secures transcripts of a case in which gay foster parents want to adopt children but cannot, in that Florida law bans gays from adoption (although allows it for felons and drug abusers). While the topic is gay adoption rights, the theme is social science--which stands this report above others in that its in-depth look at the topic also does so from that perspective. The story hinges on testimony by two professors for the state: George A. Rekers, a retired professor from the University of South Carolina, who taught neuropsychiatry and behavioral science, and Walter R. Schumm, an assistant professor of family studies at Kansas State University. Other academics respond to their belief that children of ... More »

This is good article about experts for a trial to determine if a homosexual person can be an adopted father. This is a well written and important story.