No Child Should Be Deprived of a Home Because of Prejudice

Former President of the United States John Fitzgerald Kennedy said it best when he proclaimed "Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future." Although helping children become the best they can be is a universal platform endorsed by most, if not all, legislation passed by state governments in the last hundred years seems to sing to a different tune. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as of 2007 there were “approximately 130,000 in the child welfare system waiting to be adopted.”(Averett) Adoption is widely viewed as the most positive service available to children in the child welfare arena. According to Wulczyn and Hislop, researchers at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, the benefits of adoption are high including greater levels of emotional security, sense of belonging, and emotional well-being (Hansen). With many agreed upon advantages of adoption over-long term stints in foster care, children’s homes, and temporary care facilities it would be logical to believe that federal and state governments would favor most legislation promoting responsible adoption. This is true in part; and is realized through incentives given by the national government to states and adopting families. This has consequently doubled adoptions since the 90’s (Hansen) Flawed though is that both state and federal legislation are neglecting a huge untapped population willing to attempt to adopt. Approximately half of gay men and 41% of lesbian women want to have a child (Gates). There are an estimated 10,456,405 homosexuals residing in the United States (Advert.org). We can then assume that there are nearly 5 million gay and lesbian Americans or approximately 2.5 million gay or lesbian househo...

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...der the facts related to homosexual adoption. The American Psychological Association as well as many other reputable sources gives ample research rebutting the majority of claims that homosexual parents are detrimental to their children. Our government saves money through adoption and has a responsibility to protect its citizens from unlawful discrimination by protecting all of its people’s rights. Although some states are making it easier for homosexuals to adopt many are going to opposite way and passing legislation to slow it; to this we must put our foot down. Through extensive research we have found to the best of our ability that allowing homosexuals to adopt is in the best interest of these children. To deprive a child of a home because of prejudice, homophobia, or hate would be to dishonor the values that this Nation stands for: Freedom, Justice, and Hope.