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Gay adoption and discrimination
Gay adoption and discrimination
Same-sex parents and their children
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Adoption by Same-Sex Couples
19th Annual Robyn Rafferty Mathias Conference
I. Introduction
In recent years, there has been an increase in same-sex couples applying to adopt children at both infancy and from the foster care system. Although society’s perception of a family normally consists of a mother and father, the times are changing. According to the United States 2000 Census, this societal perception of a normal family, referred to as the “nuclear family”, only represents less than 24%, of households in the U.S. The notion of the “nuclear family” is ever changing in today’s society, and with this change must come a more open view of who can adopt children. It is clear that there are several issues regarding gay and lesbian parents, but these issues do not reflect the capabilities of these couples.
According to the National Health and Social Life Survey, anywhere from one to nine million children are being raised by a gay parent. The 2000 Census found that there are approximately 601,209 same-sex couples living together in the United States. Although there are six states that currently limit or prohibit same-sex couples from adopting, the majority of states do allow these couples to adopt. It was reported in a CNN article regarding gay adoption that 60% of adoption agencies in the U.S. accept applications from same-sex couples.
It is also important to note that these couples are of different races and ethnicities and live in various areas across the United States. This proves to be helpful when finding homes for children. It has also been found that same-sex couples are more open than some heterosexual couples to the types of children they are willing to adopt. Research has shown that many same-sex coup...
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...r a child then there is another child deprived of adults who are willing and able to care for them. In these cases this puts more children at risk of aging out of the system and never having a permanent family to call their own. The more people understand that by allowing same-sex couples to adopt it is decreasing the number of children lingering in the foster care system, the more people will advocate on their behalf.
In doing this research a topic once considered taboo has now been discussed. It is clear that this issue can no longer go unnoticed. It is time to change the way that society views the “nuclear family” and the way that adoption professionals view adoptive candidates. Ultimately, same-sex couples need to be given the same opportunities as heterosexual couples to adopt children because research has shown they are equally as capable.
References
In present day, now that racism prejudice and segregation is something that children learn about in history books, there is a new issue surrounding adoption. It is now considered controversial when a couple of one race wishes to adopt a child of another race. Transracial adoption is a topic that must be confronted and dealt with so that all children in need of a permanent home can get the best family possible.
Trans-racial adoption has been and continues to be on the rise in many parts of the world. Throughout the years numerous questions pertaining to race and ethnicity have been raised. Ethnicity can be defined as a common belief that people with the same ancestry and genealogy should be associated together. While people of the same origin share common sociological aspects, people of the same race share a biological connection. Races are considered to be people who share many aspects of life, like the color of their skin and a common nationalism. A social class of people can be defined as individuals in a society who share the same socioeconomic status. It is a way to describe the social stratification of people in a society. It also gives remedial measures on coping with the issues of racial, religious and gender discrimination along with negative ethnicity that individuals may be faced when adopting a trans-racial child. This research paper covers the adoption of trans-racial children in regards to racism. There is also a discussion on the aspect of divorce in Canada. The following issues that lead to adoption are also included: The issues of poverty, and the experience of infertility.
JaeRan, K. (2013, March 5). Report on children adopted by gay and lesbian couples - Stability, Permanency and Adoption Blog. Report on children adopted by gay and lesbian couples - Stability, Permanency and Adoption Blog. Retrieved May 13, 2014, from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cascw/adoption/2013/03/report-on-children-adopted-by-gay-and-lesbian-couples.html
Gay couples should be able to adopt because they deserve to be happy as well as any other person. According to author Pascoe Watson he states “Gay couples will have to prove they have an enduring relationship with the children to know the children will be happy” (Pascoe- Watson, George p. 3). Just like any other person their relationship with their children will mature, and will soon be able to have that love and caring affection, just like any other mother and father would provide to their children. There are a lot of homosexual couples in our society that have managed to win children’s love without having any problems what so ever and remain as one happy family. Homosexuals dream is to form a family just like any other person wishes to have. Furthermore, this shows that gay parents will do the impossible to prove they can build a love and caring relationship.
Second parent adoption is an important tool utilized by same-sex couples in an effort to protect their parental rights in states where same sex marriage is not recognized. Although gay and lesbian paren...
In conclusion, it important to be educated about same sex marriage and same sex adoption. Prej-udice and discrimination due to ignorance need to stop. Statistic showed that same sex parenthood is not harmful to the children in any way, the total opposite it can be beneficial to the children because same sex couple tend to work as a team and be more acceptable of what their children want. It is a matter of time before more and more countries approved laws where same sex couples can get marry and have children.
All around the world there are thousands even millions of children who are waiting to be adopted. Many who are troubled children, and for that reason they are from foster home to foster home. The ideal American "family" is with a man and a woman. In the United States we have same-sex couples who are wanting to adopt, but they are being turned down due to their sexual preference. Same-sex relationships are much more stable than the average heterosexual relationship. Having a stable relationship ensures an emotionally steady home for a foster child. “Good parenting is not influenced by sexual orientation. Rather, it is influenced most profoundly by a parent’s ability to create a loving and nurturing home” (“LGBT Adoption”). Same-sex couples are more likely to adopt “hard to place” children with challenging behavior or disabilities.
In the last four decades, the concept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation, reflecting society's growing openness. Among all segments of society, there is a greater acceptance of a variety of family structures from single parenting to blended families to same sex parenting of children. The introduction of openness into the process of adoption offers new opportunities for children in need of a parent or parents and prospective parents wishing to create or expand their families. Meeting the requirements to become eligible to adopt no longer means being constrained by the conventions of an earlier generation.
Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes. The argument sexual orientation interferes with ones parenting skills is common belief that Charlotte J. Patterson identifies as myth in her work, Lesbian and Gay Parents and their Children, suggesting the belief that “lesbians’ and gay men’s relationships with sexual partners leave little time for ongoing parent–child interactions.” In the Who is Mommy tonight? case study, how 18 lesbian adoptive parents, 49 lesbian parents who formed their families biologically, and 44 heterosexual adoptive parents experience and perceive their parenting role, how they respond when their children seek them or their partner for particular nurturing, and how the parents negotiate the cultural expectation of a primary caregiver (Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002) is looked at.
Adoption has been around for many years, and recently gay adoption has been asked by many people. There are many children in the world that need somebody, but there is not enough families or parents to take them in. There aren’t that many families who can and will adopt children. Some families can’t support them, they have children of their own that they need to support, or they just don’t want children. Gay adoption is a solution that will help find the children a great home. There are many openly gay couples that will love to adopt children. Its’s still illegal for homosexual couples to adopt children in some areas of the U.S, let alone the world. Across our country, and in other countries, there are children awaiting adoption and eager parents
Homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted and integrated into today’s society, however, when it comes to homosexuals establishing families, a problem is posed. In most states, homosexuals can adopt children like any other married or single adult. There are many arguments to this controversial topic; some people believe that it should be legal nationally, while others would prefer that is was banned everywhere, or at least in their individual states. There are logical reasons to allow gays to adopt children, but for some, these reasons are not enough. The main issue really is, what is in the best interest of the child? This type of problem isn’t really one with causes, effects, and solutions, but one with pros and cons. Like any other adoption situation, a parent prove themselves to be responsible and capable enough to raise a child on their own, or with a spouse.
Same-sex couples can become parents through means of former relationships, co-parenting, surrogacy, adoption, and donor insemination, although major legal discrimination continues to challenge this process for families. The difficulty faced by many of these couples to have children oftentimes results in even more nurturing environments. This variance in route to parenthood can make same-sex couples that are having children more motivated to be doing so. “Planned families reflect the desire of sexual minorities to have children outside of heteronormative circumstances” (Moore 2013:495). Non-heterosexual parents on average have stronger relationships with their children th...
It's 2015, same sex marriage is legalized in the U.S., yet not all adoption agencies allow homosexual couples to adopt. It is only allowed by law to have homosexuals in a joint adoption in 11 states. Adoption has been around since the 1920’s and has been a way to help orphaned children become a family. Not everyone is willing to adopt, whether it is because they don’t want a child, or they have children of their own, and it is not in their budget to adopt another. In the end, there is still a large number of orphaned children hoping and waiting for a chance to be loved and welcomed by a family.
Someone is adopting everyday children all over the world. The children wait joyfully for couples to come and adopted them. So If a gay or a lesbian couple goes to adopted a child from a foster home they would have to go though more hassle then a straight couple would.
Adopting children in that environment would lack both mother and father figure in their life. For example, “Children without a father figure would have higher risks of early sexual activity and teen pregnancy; however, children without a mother figure deprive emotional security and unique advice that mothers provide (Pro Con).” The question is raised, should adopted children be reared and educated into a lifestyle that isn’t natural before they are old enough to understand the discrepancies? Young children that grow up in same-sex marriage environment may experience confusion and embarrassment in public surroundings; likewise, young adults and teenagers who have family members or who are personally members of the LGBT community may experience embarrassment and unusual social pressure. Children in a stable family with both mother and father figure would provide the best environment for them to mature and be responsible. Some same-sex family dynamics are from previous heterosexual marriages; therefore, this could affect the relationship between children and the immediate family members. Being part of the LGBT community could influence immediate and extended family on whether they accept or reject their relationship to the