There are basically two types of adoption agencies: public agencies which are usually supported by public funding and run by the state and private agencies which are licensed by the state but run privately (Reference 99) . Regardless of the type of agency, the state has a say in their operations, and if the state bans gay adoptions, then agencies will have to comply. In 1977, Florida passed a civil rights ordinance making discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in Dade County. In response to the creation of the ordinance, a campaign themed “Save Our Children” was created, led by “Paper Roses” hit singer and former Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant winner Anita Bryant. The campaign, whose members were mainly Christians, used biblical principles as a foundation and driving force in the fight against homosexuality. They successfully managed to link homosexuality to child recruitment and child molestation, and with enough supporters they managed to gather enough votes to overturn the ordinance. (REF to be) That same year, Florida officially passed a law prohibiting any homosexual person from adopting a child, and in that law the term “homosexual” was clearly defined as any individual “known to engage in current and volunteers." ”, thus distinguishing between homosexual orientation which describes a person attracted to another person of the same sex and homosexual activity which is seen as a sinful act against the body and against God. (REF Erick). As a result, Florida adoption law allows unmarried people to adopt, many of whom have done so through the foster care system. Coincidentally, the adoption law does not prohibit homosexuals from acting as foster carers... middle of paper... er transformed or declared unconstitutional, all failed. However, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, the state of Florida lifted its ban on gay adoptions. The ruling was due to an appeal to a 2008 decision by the Department for Children and Families that asked judges to fully consider evidence of what were considered risk factors among prospective gay parents. This risk “included greater sexual activity by children of gay parents and more incidents of teasing and bullying experienced by children from gay families.” (reference 24) The appeals panel stated that the evidence gathered by the State did not support these claims and was not scientifically valid. As a result, the law was blocked and, effective immediately, gays and lesbians were now allowed to adopt children; and thus a thirty-three year old law was abolished.