On the April 13 broadcast of KDVR Fox 31's Good Day Colorado, a report by co-anchor Shaul Turner echoed the rhetoric of the conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family by labeling a second-parent adoption bill recently approved by the state Senate a “gay adoption” bill. The Rocky Mountain News, The Pueblo Chieftain, and The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction similarly mischaracterized the measure, House Bill 1330, in their April 13 editions. While it is true that HB 1330 would effectively allow same-sex couples to adopt children, the measure makes no direct reference to same-sex adoption. Rather, it "[a]llows a child to be adopted by a specified second adult parent upon the written and verified consent of a single parent if the child has no other legal parent."

Furthermore, as a March 21 Denver Post editorial (an online version appeared March 20) pointed out, “Colorado law already permits gay men and lesbians to adopt, as single parents. Because HB 1330 would only come into play when a child already had one, but only one, legal parent, it would thus only allow a same-sex partner to adopt as a second parent when a child is already in the care of that couple.”

Reporting on HB 1330, Fox 31's Turner stated that “a gay adoption bill is on its way to the governor's desk.” She added that Ritter “is expected to sign that bill. That's despite opposition from a Republican public policy group which says the measure is aimed at promoting, quote, a homosexual agenda.” Turner did not identify the public policy group by name. The report was delivered as a voiceover to video consisting entirely of children playing on a playground. Additionally, the on-screen caption during Turner's report read, “GAY ADOPTION BILL.” Later, when Turner asked viewers, “Do you think the governor should sign this bill?” the on-screen caption read, “GAY ADOPTION BILL: SHOULD THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT?”

In addition to Fox 31, several Colorado newspapers misleadingly focused on the fact that HB 1330 would allow same-sex couples to adopt:

• At the end of an April 13 article about HB 1313, which would make it easier for a Colorado resident to obtain a drivers license, the News stated that "[i]n other Senate action, a bill to allow gay couples to adopt is on its way to Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter after winning final passage on a 20-15 party-line vote." The News also mischaracterized HB 1330 on March 14 and again on April 12, which Colorado Media Matters noted (here and here).
• The Daily Sentinel published an article by Mike Saccone about HB 1330 on April 13 with the misleading headline, “Gay adoption clears Senate.”
• The Chieftain also ran a misleading headline above an April 13 article by Charles Ashby: “Senate OKs adoptions by same-sex couples.”

In contrast, the Greeley Tribune reported (registration required) on April 12 that HB 1330 “does not directly address same-sex couples, but it would allow a partner of a single parent to adopt the child. The intent is so the partner could then provide insurance and other benefits that otherwise would not be possible.”

As Colorado Media Matters noted, labeling HB 1330 as a “gay” or “same-sex” adoption bill echoes a Focus on the Family talking point. According to a March 9 News article, HB 1330 “has been condemned by conservative religious groups, including Focus on the Family, who call it a thinly disguised effort to legalize adoption by gay couples”:

“All the high-minded discussion of 'protecting children' and 'parental responsibility' is merely a smokescreen for the true intent of this legislation: paving the way for homosexual adoption,” Jim Pfaff, president of Colorado Family Action, was quoted as saying on the Focus on the Family Web site Wednesday.

From the April 13 broadcast of KDVR Fox 31's Good Day Colorado:

[Caption: “GAY ADOPTION BILL”]

TURNER: And a gay adoption bill is on its way to the governor's desk. The state Senate gave final approval to a measure allowing gay couples to adopt children together. Current state law allows a gay person to adopt, but not same-sex partners. Governor Ritter is expected to sign that bill. That's despite opposition from a Republican public policy group which says the measure is aimed at promoting, quote, a homosexual agenda. And so that's our question today: Do you think the governor should sign this bill?

[Caption: “GAY ADOPTION BILL: SHOULD THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT?”]