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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- In a ruling hailed by conservatives and condemned by gay rights advocates, a federal judge Thursday upheld a Florida law that bans homosexuals from adopting children.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence King ruled there is "no fundamental right to adopt." And, he said, the gay plaintiffs who had challenged the Florida law never disagreed with the state's contention that "married heterosexual families provide children with a more stable home environment, proper gender identification and less social stigmatization than homosexual homes."

The state had asserted that it was in "the best interest" of a child to be raised by a married family, and the judge said it was "unnecessary" for the court to determine whether that was correct.

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The case began after Steven Lofton, a gay man, sought to adopt a foster child he had care for. Another gay man, Douglas Houghton, joined the suit after he tried to adopt a child he had been caring for. A 1977 Florida statute bans gay or lesbian adults from adopting children, and the men challenged that law. Other gay men also joined the lawsuit.

An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which had represented the plaintiffs, said she would file a motion asking the court to reconsider the case.

"We are quite surprised by the decision," said Leslie Cooper, contending the Florida law was grounded in "bias" and ought to be overturned.

An executive with the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, agreed.

Lisa Bennett, deputy director for FamilyNet, a Web site hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, called the decision "profoundly unfortunate."

"We know of so many gay and lesbian parents who have adopted kids in tough straits and have done a great job with them," she said. "Why keep the kids in an institution, especially when there is not a shred of evidence suggestion any harm from a parent's sexual orientation?"

But Anthony Verdugo, chairman of the Dade County Christian Coalition, disagreed. He asserted there is "scientific evidence" to prove that children raised by gay men or women are more likely to become gay and more likely to be sexually abused.

"We're very happy with the decision," Verdugo said.

The Traditional Values Coalition, a conservative group in Washington that opposes gay rights, also applauded the ruling.

"Homosexuals are attempting to redefine the family and what constitutes marriage," said the Rev. Louis Sheldon, chairman of the group. "And because they cannot reproduce, they must recruit children into their movement."

Bennett said two other states -- Mississippi and Utah -- ban adoptions by gay adults, but 20 states and the District of Columbia expressly allow it.