Florida Bill Would Let Adoption Agencies Refuse Gay Couples

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — The Florida House passed a bill that would allow state adoption agencies to turn away gay couples based on religious and moral beliefs.

The House voted 75-38 on Thursday for the bill, sending it to the Senate.

It was a response to a backlash from social conservatives after the House passed a separate adoption bill last month that stripped a gay adoption ban from state law. That law hasn't been enforced since it was found unconstitutional five years ago.

Representative debated from more than an hour, with Republicans saying the bill was needed to protect the rights of religious groups and Democrats saying the state shouldn't be allowing discrimination.

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