Gay Adoption

Are children more likely to be gay or lesbian if raised in a gay home?Many opposed to same sex adoption fear that children raised in a homosexual environment will become homosexual themselves. There have been various studies on this subject and various researchers have been asked this very question. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “The odds of a child becoming homosexual are about the same as the odds of a child becoming heterosexual, regardless of the sexual orientation of the parents.” (Nighlad).

This article talks about the support of second parent adoption for gays everywhere. They support the idea that children with two capable adults no matter what gender are able and should be able to care for a child. Although they support this, the article does not show any sort of negativity toward the opposite side relating the issue. The site details the rights that the second parent should be guaranteed through an adoption. They also think that pediatricians and other professions dealing with children should get more familiar with learning about gays and the children they adopt. The authors are the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The people in the committee have many different backgrounds and are advocates for children’s

In the Chicago Tribune article titled “Florida’s puzzling case against gay adoptions” written by Steve Chapman argues that Florida’s government should give an opportunity to homosexual people to adopt children. Couple weeks ago the U.S Supreme Court hold out the policy which prevent gays and lesbians from adopting children in Florida. However, there a lot of side effects are generated by this resolution. Such as Steven Lofton, who has taken honor from the Children’s home society as an outstanding foster parent and dedicated himself to take care of the kids with HIV or AIDS full-time for the past decade. Despite how adequately suitable to serve as a foster parent, it didn’t change the state’s mind to view as an adoptive parent since he is a

The ban on gay adoption has been in place since 1977, when the state legislature almost unanimously condoned restriction of the rights of its gay citizens. The lines of public and private are particularly blurred when it comes to adoption. Adoption is a completely public process; there is no privacy for the couple or individual involved as they are scrutinized by the state, whether they be homosexual or not. The state is justified in violating a person's right to privacy in the best interest of the child or children they may adopt. At the time of the Florida law's inception, Senator Curtis Peterson, one of its primary supporters, spoke to the law's purpose: "The problem in Florida has been that homosexuals are surfacing to such an extent that they're beginning to aggravate the ordinary folks. We're trying to send them a message, telling them: 'We're really tired of you. We wish you'd go back into the closet" (2).

The unjust and prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex is discriminating; according to the Oxford dictionary. This term does not empower them, but instead make people feel powerless. Same-sex couples in particular, who are looking to adopt, feel unequal to their heterosexual associates. In relation to adoption, there shouldn’t be preference to heterosexual couples over same-sex couples. Adoption typically is not an easy process, but when it comes to people of the same sex trying to adopt, what seems to be as simple as to buying a puppy, is very intimidating and discouraging. The laws that govern these decisions do not help at all. The inconsistency amongst all of the states in America makes the process even more challenging, to the point where couples give up. Same-sex couples who are fortunate enough to be allowed by the courts to adopt, are still being judgmental. The judgments are based on their parenting abilities and the effects their lifestyle they live, whether it will have a negative backlash on the children. The intention of my analysis on same-sex adoption is to examine some of the bifurcation and the challenges that these individuals encounter while trying to legally adopt a child.

In the United States there are 397,122 children living in the foster care system, and of those children, 101,666 are able to be adopted (Facts and Statistics). These children need stable living environments to grow up in. Without them, they are more likely to be convicted of crimes, become homeless, and abuse substances. There are options for these children that shouldn’t be pushed aside. Adoption by gay couples has been debated for decades. The issues here include: Adoption rates, compared parenting, drawbacks, and positives.

Because these children are less likely to undergo physical and/or emotional abuse it is probable they will respond appropriately to stress later in life. It seems to be a given that the children who are fortunate enough to have a healthy upbringing are liable to be successful in life without the emotional baggage abuse can create. Because homosexuals are more apt to accept their children’s personalities and nurture a child’s differences it may prevent the child from rebelling or making disastrous decisions that could lead them to be incarcerated and other things of that sort.

Since the 1990’s approximately 8-10 million children in the US alone are raised in a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) household. Same-Sex Adoption is controversial because many people throughout the world are against LGBT adoption; but when faced with the number of kids who pray everyday for someone out there wanting to be the parent of a foster child, it is difficult to understand why the topic of gay adoption is controversial. Yes, there can be a bad outcome but there can also be a very good outcome of these kinds of adoptions. The LGBT Adoption situation can be fixed by allowing any adult or parent to adopt a child if they have the right living environment or the knowledge and skills that it takes to raise a kid in the proper way. But social workers have reservations on considering gay adoptive parents because they are fearful of how the parents will treat and raise the children and how they will grow up feeling. People who oppose same sex marriage, including U.S. elected officials, have argued that a child raised by a LGBT parent will need additional emotional support or will face social challenges compared to children with heterosexual parents (Borreli). Although many people believe that LGBT parents shouldn’t be allowed to adopt because it affects the child, LGBT parents should be allowed to adopt because many kids need a place to call home or someone they can call family, they need someone in a similar situation that they can talk

“Last year, 29,471 children turned 18 and left the foster care system without an adoptive family” (“Adoption” 1). Unfortunately for those young adults, knowing the comfort of a stable family was not part of their childhood. Though there is a high demand for children to be adopted, the reality is many are not being adopted. Furthermore, even though there are children that need a good home, state governments are purposely making laws that prohibit certain groups of people from adopting children. States like Florida and Mississippi are both culprits. Two groups that are especially being targeted by unfair laws are gays and lesbians. These unfair laws are clear discrimination, and they should be put to an end

. So now the real question emerges: Is parental guidance by two parents of thesame sex really more harmful to a child¶s development than no parental guidance at all? In someminds the answer ³NO´ flashes in bright, blinking lights however, there are many, including themajority of Americans, who disagree. Laws banning adoption by gay and lesbian couples exist

Others who do not support same-sex adoption show concerns for the well-being of the child after being exposed to a homosexual lifestyle. In the article, Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Parents: Resources for Professional and Parents, it states that social workers are hesitant to allow same-sex adoptions because they wonder how the child will be raised and how the child will feel about themselves and the parents being homosexual. It is also stated in the article that conservative political and religious groups show how same-sex adoption have negative effects on children (“Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Parents”). There have been cases where the courts have taken in the fact that a child adopted by homosexual parents could be teased because of the parents and did what was the best interest for the child. Their argument was that in the long run the child’s self-esteem could become damaged because of the bullying (“Gay and

Several studies have shown that couples of the same sex are more financially stable than couples of the opposite sex and the children would be psychologically better off if they were adopted. “Same sex couples had higher education levels and greater economic status than the opposite sex couples and that both parents in the same sex couple were more likely to be employed” (Rosman). In some situations, a child is better off being adopted by a same sex couple. They would be able to always provide for their child and give them a better life than what they would have had if they were not adopted and put in the foster care system. “There were no significant differences between teenagers living with same-sex parents and those living with other sex parents on self reported assessments of psychological well being, such as self esteem and anxiety; measures of school outcomes, such as grade point averages and trouble in school; or measures of family relationships,

Gay parents are facing discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Twenty-two states currently allow single gays to adopt and 21 states currently allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt in the U.S. (Mallon, 2007, p. 6). The ability of gay couples to rear a child should not be denied only because they are gay. Homosexuals may be looked down upon by society, but they still are humans and have morals. These morals they possess, may influence a child more than those morals taught to a child with heterosexual parents. All over the world, children suffer in families consisting of alcoholics, drug abusers, and sexual abusers (Powell, 2007, p.1). It is not possible that these environments are safer than what would be provided by homosexual

“About 19 percent of same-sex couples raising children reported having an adopted child in the house in 2009, up from just 8 percent in 2000.” As society changes there opinions on same-sex marriage they more gays and lesbians are adopting. There was recent rise in same-sex adoption but there is still people in U.S. that are against same-sex adoption. Recently a judge in Kentucky objected gay and lesbian adoption. This caused a huge uproar and had people thinking whether or not gay and lesbian adoption is okay for the children. One article feels that state legislators are putting more hurdles in the way of adoption and preventing children from getting into loving and caring homes (“Adoptions are declining,”2017). Gays and lesbians being able to adopt will provide loving homes, get kids out of foster care, and they choose to be parents.

What if this was you or your child in the situation, how would you feel? Many people believe in same sex adoption and believe it should be legal everywhere. But many others think same sex adoption is wrong and should not be permitted. Many studies have been done for both sides and it all depends on what you truly believe in. Many people debate whether same sex adoption is right or wrong. But it shouldn't be about what's right or what's wrong, it should be about the kids in the foster care system needing a loving family. If a same sex couple will do that, then that's a fight, they are gonna have to fight. There has been a lot of evidence for both sides, and they both are putting up a good argument.