Phoenix (AP) – A civil rights group says Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery’s refusal to help married same-sex couples with adoptions must be rescinded or they will sue.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona sent Montgomery a letter on April 13. The letter says his policy of helping straight couples adopt but refusing to provide gay and lesbian couples the same services violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.
ACLU legal director Victoria Lopez cited a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that says laws and policies refusing to recognize gay marriage are discriminatory and illegal.
Spokesman Jerry Cobb says Montgomery hasn’t yet read the letter so can’t comment.
Montgomery has defended his policy, saying the court decisions that ultimately legalized gay marriage in Arizona last year don’t extend to adoption law.
