GOP Chair Cuts Off Child Testifying Against Antigay Bill

The son of two men pleads for Florida to reject a bill that would allow private adoption agencies to turn away same-sex parents.

A Florida House committee advanced legislation this week that would allow private adoption agencies to reject prospective same-sex parents if they object to them on religious grounds. It now advances to the full House.

At the hearing on Thursday, a 10-year-old boy named Nathaniel tried to describe how he was raised by two men, who cared for him and his brother. One of Nathaniel's fathers was a plaintiff in the 2010 federal case that overturned Florida's statewide ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

"I was lucky to be placed with my brother, he was all I had, and he has looked after me since I was born," Nathaniel said. "In the home where DCS placed us we had two dads. We were happy and liked our new home a lot."

Republican committee chair Chair McBurney cut off Nathaniel, saying he was doing "a great job" but he had exceeded the one minute he was alotted to speak. Equality Florida, via Towleroad, posted a video of Nathaniel's intended speech. Watch Nathaniel at the hearing and his full testimony below.