State subsidizes adopted son of gay man

State subsidizes adopted son  of gay man

Florida’s ban on adoption by gay people took another hit this month when state child welfare administrators decided to provide health insurance, college tuition and other benefits to the adopted son of a gay Key West man.

Previously, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) had refused to give the subsidy to Wayne LaRue Smith’s son. Smith raised the boy in foster care, and a Monroe County judge approved his adoption in fall of 2008. This month, DCF attorneys decided to provide the teenager with the benefits typically enjoyed by other children who are adopted from state care.

In comments to the Miami Herald, the DCF continued to maintain that the settlement does not detract from DCF’s position that a child outside state care is not entitled to a subsidy.

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