Gay lobby day transcript

Today’s Enquirer inaccurately reported state Rep. Tom Brinkman's position on House Bill 515, the ban on gay adoptions.

Here is a portion of a tape-recorded conversation with Brinkman Wednesday that addressed House Bill 28, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, and House Bill 515, the proposed ban on gay adoption.

Brinkman: “That’s not going to be voted on, too. We’ve talked about them in caucus. They’re just not moving.’’

“And we’re happy about that,’’ said Ted Jackson, president of the Cincinnati Log Cabin Republicans. “In addition to the discrimination factor against gays and lesbians, there’s 6,000 children in the state of Ohio right now that are looking for loving homes. And certainly gay couples can provide those for them.’’

Brinkman: “And again, we talk about conflicts. That’s a big conflict with me because I’m also very pro-life. And I think we should have adoption as opposed to abortion. And we do need to have homes for them. And we have to come up with a plan that helps our adoption situation, because it’s really quite poor in Ohio, mostly because of the lack of finality of the adoptions. People adopt and then six months later the birth mother says, ‘I want the baby back.’ And so they split the whole adoption. I know an instance right in Mount Lookout where a lady went through the adoption – it’s great that President Bush has this $10,000 tax credit for adoption now, because it is expensive. And everything was signed by both birth parents. And then three months later the grandmother of the baby decides she wanted to take care of the child. So she twisted the arm of the birth mother. Birth mother broke the adoption, and the couple had to give the baby back. So the lack of finality is a big problem. You’re right.’’

Jackson: “Bu if 515. If that issue were to escalate, and--’’

Brinkman: “It’s not going to. It’s not going to. OK. OK.’’

Jackson: “But let me just throw something in front of you: Certain members of the House or the Senate decided to do a legislative move to throw it on the (statewide) ballot, could we count on your no vote to keep it off the ballot?’’

Brinkman: “Uhh. I’d say, fine, you could count on it, but ‘cause I just don’t see that happening. I don’t think it’s that big an issue.’’

Jackson: “Right. But we never know. We never know the way things expose(play) out. We know that they are used sometimes as drivers. And we got a big election coming up, so.’’
Brinkman: “This one. I can tell you, we had a big, long meeting with the Speaker (Jon Husted). It’s not going anywhere.’’

Doug Braun, gay rights advocate: “The same language was shopped around in 2005, to folks. They just couldn’t find a sponsor. This time they found a sponsor. So it’s going to keep coming back.’’

Brinkman: “Well, I just know what I heard from the speaker. But you’re right. There might be something next time, next session. But I think this session is pretty dead. Our speaker was actually adopted by--. He certainly has some issues. And we have tried to work with him on trying to improve adoption in the state of Ohio, particularly in the whole idea of the pro-life type of issues.’’

Jackson: “I’m going to have to cut out a little early, because I have to meet with Rep. (Bill) Seitz, but Lynne and Kent (Lefebvre) and I are Republicans and, you know, you’re the tax ax, we love you for that and everything, but we just want you to know we are good, individual liberty Republicans. Less taxes, less government in our lives. Sometimes that also means that, you know, we have to protect people from discrimination.’’