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. To understand some of these issues, the focus will primarily be directed towards how the law views same-sex adoptions. An analysis will compare and contrast on the upbringing of children who have been adopted and the
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
Interestingly, a recent case has further infringed upon the ability of gay partners to adopt a child in their marriage, thus highlighting the precarious legal status of a gay parent. In the case of Amalia C. and Melissa M., “Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court judge, Margarita López Torres, ruled on Jan. 6 that because New York State had enacted same-sex marriage in 2011 and allowed both women to be listed on the boy’s birth certificate, Amalia was already the child’s parent and could not adopt him.” (McKinley) This ruling has been troubling to gay rights advocates “because the presumption of parentage may not be respected if they leave the state,” according to Susan Sommer, a lawyer with the Lambda Legal Defense Fund (McKinley). Judge Torres, however, has stated openly that her reason for the ruling was because it places gay marriage on a separate footing from traditional marriage and while she is sensitive to the needs of those whose marriages may not be recognized in another state, she must abide by the laws of New York, which do not allow a heterosexual spouse to adopt a stepchild (McKinley).
He explores the idea of adoption by same-sex couples and the adversity they face in becoming parents. He believes that recognition is the way to achieve equality in adoption. Ignatieff still believes that the rights revolution has done its duty, regardless of the severe lack of rights for all people (Ignatieff, 2007, 86). The idea of same-sex adoption was explored by Epstein, Goldfinger, Ross, and Yager, 2009. They found that despite the fact that adoption by same-sex couples has been legal in Canada since the early 2000s, there are still barriers preventing them from adopting. Same-sex couples often experience rampant homophobia or heterosexism (the belief that all people should be heterosexual). As adoption is handled on a ‘best-interest’ policy, it is very easy for decision-makers’ personal beliefs to cloud their judgement and to decide not to place a child with a family based on their sexual orientation. In spite of the laws and rights surrounding adoption, many same-sex couples are considered unfit parents (Epstein et al, 2009, 453-454). It is clear that the rights of all Canadians are not
Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Couples in Open Adoption Arrangements: A Qualitative Study comes from the Journal of Marriage and Family, published April 1, 2001. The authors Abbie Goldberg, Lori Kinkler, and Hannah Richardson all have a background that makes them qualified to be a creditable source. Goldberg has masters’ degree in psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology. She is a professor of clinical psychology at Clark University and also teaches courses on gender and families – diversity in contemporary families. Goldberg is interested in many social issues including, social class and the contexts that effect development and mental health – major interest in adoption, gay/lesbian parenting, and family diversity. Her research focuses
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
Same-sex adoptions are when a gay or lesbian couple decides since they are unable to conceive that they would like the same opportunities as everyone else and adopt a child. There are many people who do not support this. The reason for their unsupportiveness is that they think they just aren’t a right fit for children. Others though say that a child’s welfare is better served in a family environment with two parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation (“Adoption). In the article, “Birth Mother wins return of toddler after ‘adoption by lesbian couple”, it tells a story of a deaf mother giving birth to a child and then having it be adopted by a lesbian couple only to take it away three years later. All three women had the exact same disability and that is why the birthmother aloud her daughter to be adopted from them. The birth mother thought that she would be unable to care for her child but later on found out she would be able to provide for her daughter. Although this situation was unique because they did not go through an adoption agency the lesbian mothers showed very clearly that they could take care of the child. They had cared for the girl from the minute she was born until the day the birth mother took her back. The couple even lived in the birth mothers house for the last few months of her pregnancy and practical raised the birth mothers children. After all this though the court still ruled that the couple was unfit to
In conclusion, the augment for gay adoption is far stronger and far better supported than those opposed. One must admit that sexual orientation is fundamentally irrelevant to a person’s capacity to be a good parent. The opposition to gay and lesbian adoption has failed to support its
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
Miraculously in 2010 Florida acknowledged that the adoption ban was unconstitutional (eQuality, 2005). In previous years homosexuals interested in the adoption process would use foster care to acquire the same nurturing family that heterosexuals had acquired thus, circumventing the system. The unconstitutional ban had the ability to deter potential same sex adoptive parents because they feared automatic exclusion. With the increased pressure from the gay community to allow same sex adoptions many adoption agencies are becoming more accommodating to homosexuals. However, the obstacles that same sex couples encounter tend to minimize the whole family structure and make the family unit vulnerable (Brown, Smalling, Groza, & Ryan, 2009).
There are currently 107,011 kids in the U.S. foster care system that are hoping and waiting to be adopted, so just imagine how many of those children could be adopted if more lesbian and gay couples were able to adopt. According to lifelong adoption agencies more and more gay and lesbian couples are becoming parents through artificial insemination, a surrogate, or LGBT adoption. It’s hard for same sex couples to adopt because adoption agencies that have religious beliefs against same sex couples reject them, or a state law prohibits same sex parents. Same sex couples face much opposition from a large number of people even though they do not have well supported arguments for their beliefs. Many studies have been done in an attempt to figure
Adoption is metamorphosing into a radical new process that is both sweeping the nation and changing it. But this process is not an easy one, there are many steps to go through. Through research it is made a lot easier. Adoption is a also a highly visible example of a social institution that has benefits from and been reshaped by both the Internet and the exponential growth of alternative lifestyles, from single to transracial to gay. It is accelerating our transformation into a more multicultural society; even as it helps redefine out understanding of “family.” The process includes three main steps including a type of adoption, the techniques for location a baby for adoption, arranging
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
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.
Gay adoption is a subject which is widely debated. However over recent years gay adoption has allowed for most gay couples who want to adopt young children and give them a good quality of life, which they would have if they lived with their biological parents or a heterosexual couple, to do so.
Since the early 1900s, homosexual people have become increasingly popular and greatly resisted. People that are homosexual face barriers placed upon them by the political system and society. Due to these challenges, homosexuals fought to have the same marital and parental rights as heterosexual people. Same-sex adoption is not prohibited in most states in the United States of America and many places worldwide. Family is not determined solely on blood relations and should be legalized in all parts of the world; because homosexual parents are just as good as heterosexual parents, if not better, and can provide an enriching second chance for many children waiting to be adopted.