Florida attorney general Bill McCollum tried to explain his remarks that gay people should be barred from serving as foster parents, saying he would await an appellate court ruling before launching any push to change the law.

McCollum, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, was quoted earlier this week by the Florida Baptist Witness as saying he supported a change in state law to bar gay people from serving as foster parents. Florida law currently prohibits adoption by gay people but allows them to foster children. The adoption ban awaits an appeals court decision.

According to the Sunshine State News, “McCollum said he personally believes that heterosexual parents provide the best environment for a child. But he told reporters that he would await an appellate court ruling over whether openly gay people can adopt before weighing in further on whether gays should also be barred from serving as foster parents.”

“The laws are inconsistent and there needs to be a review,” he said, as reported by the Sunshine State News. “My personal belief is that it is best to have parents who are a man and a woman to raise a child. That’s my view. I think that is by far preferable for the child.”

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