Gay Parenting Essay

Younger children usually have an easier time adjusting to a gay and lesbian parented home. They haven’t learned the social biases against gays and lesbians yet.” (Nighlad).

Arguments for gay and lesbian families is a concern for the sanctity of marriage is often accompanied by a discomfort with the idea of gay and lesbian families, based on misinformation about the quality of those relationships and their impact on children (Kimmel 184). Arguments that support gay and lesbian families are mainly focused on having the same equal rights as heterosexuals. Many gay and lesbian couples want to get married because of the benefits they acquire such as the right to inherit from a spouse who dies without a will, the right to consult with doctors and make crucial decisions (Kimmel 184). A meta analysis of social studies of gay and lesbian parenting suggests that children are more accepting of homosexuality and maybe more likely to indicate a willingness to consider homosexual relationships themselves (Kimmel 186). Another great example is daughters of lesbian and gay parents are more assertive, confident, and ambitious, and sons are less conforming to traditional masculine aggression and domination and have a better understanding of their gender identity (Kimmel

“There is no scientific basis for concluding that lesbian mothers or gay fathers are unfit parents on the basis of their sexual orientation” (Armesto, 2002; Patterson, 2000; Tasker & Golombok, 1997). Ever since gay and lesbians have been parents people have questioned how the parents’ sexual orientation impacts child and adolescent development. Opponents of same-sex parents argue that sexual orientation has a negative impact on child development, while proponents argue that the relationship between the child and parents is what matters. National, state, and local governments are faced with the controversy surrounding same-sex parenting. People have very strong opinions on both sides of the argument. Children and adolescents who are under lesbian or gay parents have normal child development compared with children under heterosexual parents. These children develop normally socially, mentally, and academically.

“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

Child welfare services and the ACLU would agree that thecircumstances remain ideal for the child because having homosexual parents poses nodisadvantage to children (ACLU 2).The gay community is becoming more and more prominent in American society. Whatwas once an extremely ³closeted´ life style, is integrating itself into our everyday lives. As morerights are granted to gay and lesbian people, the more normal they are going to seem to everyoneelse. I¶m confident that my future children will grow up accepting homosexuality and that astime goes on, so will the rest of the country. So if the gay community is going to become sosignificant in our lives, shouldn¶t we grant them equal rights? If we can accept gays and lesbiansas people, partners, workers, and friends, why can¶t we accept them as good parents? When youlook at it logically, the exclusion of homosexuals as adoptive parents just doesn¶t make sense.³Love makes a family, not biology or gender,´ says gay dad Robert Calhoun about hisexperience as an adoptive father. Calhoun and his partner Clay of Avondale Estates, Georgiahave adopted two children-- four-year-old daughter Rainey and eighteen-month-old son Jimmy.Calhoun adds, ³We¶re not moms, we¶re not heterosexual, and we¶re not biological parents, [but]we¶re totally equal and just as loving as female parents, straight parents, and biological parents.´(Gandossy 1 ) The Calhouns certainly seem capable of providing just as much love and

The main concern that homosexual parents worry about is their child or children being teased, or hiding facts about their parents to avoid being bullied (Meezan 103). I recently read an article from ABC News and in the article a married homosexual couple was shocked that they are not allowed to adopt a child. They were told that in order to adopt only one parent can be listed on the birth certificate. They feel that the laws that are aimed at the adults are hurting the children who really need homes (James).

While a popular catchphrase states that “family is a circle of friends that love you”, from a legal standpoint, the word “family” requires definition. Traditionally, a family has been defined as a married heterosexual couple and their children, but as more and more states are legalizing same-sex marriage, new questions arise. Regardless of one's position about whether gay marriage should be legal, it is clear that the definition of family is changing and the legal system will need to address these changes. Whether it is determining who should be a custodial parent, clarifying adoption processes, or implementing legal protections in cases of divorce, family law must grow and change along with the definition of family.

Children in a homosexual environment can have the same upbringing as heterosexual parents. There are many children available for adoption and an increased number of capable gay and lesbian parents (Tavernise 4). The number of potential parents that are homosexuals is plentiful. A main concern is that the marriage between two homosexuals is unusual and will affect the child’s upbringing in a negative way. “The principal argument for traditional marriage is that it is uniquely beneficial to children. Accordingly, a key tenet of the campaign for same-sex marriage ("SSM") is that same-sex couples are just as good as other parents; there is no difference between the two. This [viewpoint] analyzes this claim and concludes that it is unsubstantiated and almost certainly false” (Dent 2).

Numerous studies have been conducted on various facets of gay relationships. Focusing on the levels of interaction, and people’s ability to love a child just like any other straight couple. When individuals who have no clue about gay marriage or even gay families start to think and question the issue it sounds like, ‘Wait, isn’t having gay parents hard on the children?’ People immediately jump to conclusions because they haven’t done research or even tried to observe the situation itself. The talk about gay adoption is becoming more relevant in the world. There is a rising amount of open same-sex couples everywhere and many of them would love to have kids, but it’s still illegal for same-sex couples to adopt children in the U.S., let alone

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

Raising children has always been a popular topic all around the world and many question the parenting techniques that adults may use when raising a child and if their techniques will prove to be successful in the future. When thinking of a traditional way of raising children one may see a mother and a father raising their children together and with perfection. However society has adapted a new meaning of family. Same-sex couples now have the right to love each other legally and many associate the word “love” with their children. One may question whether a same sex couple will have the ability to raise children the same way heterosexual couples raise their children. What separates heterosexual couples from homosexual couple’s ability to parent? How is it that those raised by same-sex couples turnout to be the most accepting and loving people?

Skeptics of gay and lesbian parents also raise the concern that the children of same sex couples would be subject to stigma from society. They argue that gay parents should not be granted custody rights because their children would be subject to unnecessary ridicule by their peers. In short, their position is that children should not be placed into harsh conditions simply due to their parents’ “sexual behavior.”

These desires will translate into parenting by a homosexual person or couple because when their child is experiencing an internal conflict, whether it is about self-identity or sexual orientation; a homosexual parent will be able to sympathize and relate to the child more because they have experienced it as well, thus, making the child feel comfortable to talk to their parent and feel understood. Many heterosexual parents fail in this aspect and make their child feel disconnected from them because many heterosexual parents are usually not open to these types of issues.

Through the entire interview process, four of the eleven participants, two males, one was in the younger age group and the other was in the older age group, and two females, again with one from each group, explicitly said what my research has explained: children raised by gay parents learn to become more open towards others than children raised by straight parents. All of the participants gave answers that aligned with my research on the kind of parent a child needs and what a healthy household consists of. Each contributor believed that love and support, as well as a handful of other qualities leads to a well-developed child. The handful of qualities mentioned by informants were: stable, mature, and responsible. Informants believe a parent should be someone who is capable of caring for someone else. No one mentioned a single thing about the sexual orientation required to be a good parent; society does not take sexual orientation into consideration when describing who could be a good parent.

(2009)” Studies showed that these children and young adults are as popular as children reared by heterosexual parents; at school they have grades within average, the same level of stress as other kids. In general, they have normal relationships with peers and adults. Most of them accept their parent’s sexual orientation; some even get inspired by their parent’s courage to be different.