Same-sex Parents in Custody Cases

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

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

All families face challenges in their everyday life. For some, the challenges are easier to handle while for others, surmounting those challenges can be more difficult. Over the years, the LGBT community in the US has faced many hurdles. Whether it’s the legalization of same-sex marriage to adoption rights to alimony, child support and child custody in case of divorce, legislation specific to gay and lesbian couples still has a long way to go.

Dillard uses the character of her mother to describe family relations and the role of women in the society in the olden days. She presents her mother as an enlightened woman who does little apart from taking care of the children. Sullivan uses his life story to explain how things have changed from the days when gays were under the closet to now when they can feel at home living amongst the straight in the United States. The two authors present different ideas relating to family values and gender roles; nonetheless, the two stories under discussion point to generational transformations that have seen drastic changes on the issues of gender roles and same-sex marriages.

This article is about engaging the homosexual community in the process of adopting each spouses children in the event that one of them dies. In this article two women are fighting the gay marriage law in michigan in order to have the rights to parental interest of their children. They are fighting that the law prevents them from co-adopting their three children. They argue that no other group in society has their rights to adopt their significant others children with held from them. That society should not be able to establish which parental unit homosexual or heterosexual is more qualified to raise children. There is no significant research that has proven whether straight or homosexual parents raise better children.

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.

Wilson, Suzanne. "Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents Are Not More Likely to Have Problems." Gay Parenting, edited by Beth Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010844207/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&xid=8e6207d4. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017. Originally published as "A Conversation with Psychologist Abbie Goldberg: What Studies Show About Gay/Lesbian Parenting," Daily Hampshire Gazette, 22 July 2009.

“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.

By growing a family, it proves that as an individual you are independent and wise, branching off to share your wisdom to your kids. This being said, the right to marry and start a family should be an American right given to all citizens, yet it was until recently that the LGBT community was granted this basic right. This overdue accomplishment occurred in 2015 during the Obergefell v. Hodges case where the supreme court ruled that, “denying gay people the right to marry was unconstitutional under several provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment”( Gay Rights). This victory gave hope to the LGBT community as they were given access to one key sector of achieving the American Dream, marriage under protection of the law. However, even though same-sex marriage is now legal in all fifty states, the act of same-sex marriage is still looked down upon by individuals. Aside from marriage, another aspect of beginning a family is raising kids. Although same-sex couples may not be able to biologically produce offspring, the right to raise kids through adoption should be available to them just as it is to heterosexual couples. Yet, LGBT members are constantly being denied the right to attain a family through adoption due to discrimination by those influencing the adoption process. According to Rachel Stewart Johnson, “gay couples trying to

(Chiles) This study confirms that parenting by same-sex couples is the same or better than heterosexual homes and are more welcoming and ready to provide safety to children in contrast what other people say. Some people argue that children raised in a same-sex home can cause psychological damage but “high-risk children adopted from foster care do equally well when placed with gay, lesbian or heterosexual parents, UCLA psychologists report in the first multi-year study of children adopted by these three groups of parents.”(Wolpert). These studies also confirm that same-sex couples are indeed doing well raising children. No matter what gender or sexual preference, everyone should be equally treated and have same rights as anybody else. It hasn’t been proven that same-sex parents affect the development of a child’s life, in contrast, they have the opportunity to grow up in a home surrounded by the values of compassion and love. Question is, shouldn’t the main issue be what the best interest of the child is? When evaluating a potential person as a parent the main thing should be if the person is caring, stable and devoted not the individual’s sexual orientation. Homosexual’s parental

The readers of this article could possibly be those who do not accept same-sex couples raising kids. The opposite could be true and the audience might be for gay people who are interested in the development of laws allowing them to marry and raise kids. The author’s position recognizes the controversy behind same-sex couple raising children and the confusion with explaining it to children. However, she believes that people should learn to accept and respect these new developments in our

Gay parent adoption or same-sex adoption refers to the adoption of children by individuals who prefer romantic partners of the same sex--gays and lesbians. Same-sex adoption is portrayed by the media as being a potentially good thing but with potentially detrimental side effects, most notably for the adopted children. This type of adoption is often made to look as if it might well be done but perhaps should not be for the sake of the children involved. With groups such as the religious right, fundamentalist Christian denominations, and private religiously affiliated adoption agencies backing the opposition to adoption by gays and lesbians and, on the other side, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and various LGBT (lesbian gay bisexual transgender)-friendly groups making up the proponents, the battle over same- sex adoption is well defined and entrenched in a deep and long-standing debate. That battle begins with the media and its portrayal of gay parent adoptions as against the agencies and advocacy groups and their perspectives on placing children in the homes and care of homosexual individuals.

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

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

Gay couples have to be very responsible with different things such as adopting, weddings, and money issues. Even being a gay parent can influence the child’s future and social life. If a school had a bring your dad to the dance day