By Mithran Samuel

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering has caused a storm by including a quote referring to "retarded homophobes" in an early print run of a publication on gay adoption.

Including the quote from a gay adopter, the charity admits, was a mistake and it has apologised for the error (which was condemned as a 'disgrace' by Mencap) and promised that the main print run of the Pink Guide to Adoption would not include it.

The guide is designed to combat prejudices against gay adoption and encourage same sex couples to consider adoption.

"Retarded" - or any of its variants - is clearly offensive to people with learning disabilities and should not be sullying the pages of any publication, as Baaf clearly recognises.

Mencap's reaction is understandable and correct.

However, the criticisms of Baaf emerging from the front page of today's Daily Mail are far less palatable.

Read the complete post at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-work-blog/2009/05/gay-adoption-row-baaf-was-wron.html