Foster Child Removed Because Couple are Gay Men

An eight-month old child has been removed from the foster care of a same-sex Miami couple and the men say the decision was based solely on the fact they are gay.

The HIV-positive baby had been placed with Roger Carillo and partner Hiram Perez The Children's Society when his birth mother, a crack addict was deemed unfit. At the time no other family member wanted the child, named Ricky. When he was born he weighed only 20 pounds. Since being with Carillo and Perez little Ricky has gained weight and despite his HIV status is otherwise healthy. The couple applied to become permanent foster parents for the child but shortly after making the application this week men received a call from The Children's Society that a caseworker would come by to pick up Ricky. Under Florida law gays cannot adopt but can be foster parents.