With gay marriage newly banned in liberal California, will gay adoptions be put on hold? If so, who will care for the legions of orphans needing homes?
While euphoric over Barack Obama's huge victory and new presidency, many gays worry that California's recent decision to ban gay marriage will force his administration to cleave to the current federal government hands-off approach to anything to do with homosexuals. The troubled economy doesn't help because all efforts are being channeled to fix it and there's no stomach for dealing with social issues. During the campaign, Michelle Obama and Joe Biden opted energetically for gay rights although Obama soft pedaled the issue. Now he says he will deal with the gay adoption issue on a case by case basis.
However, law makers and backroom politicos in 16 states debate making it legal; Florida an anti gay adoption holdout, recently ruled a homosexual foster parent could adopt the child he's looked after for 9 years.
Homosexual men and women are winning legal battles worldwide as they adopt children who experts confirm are unharmed by a gay upbringing. In many cities, agencies hold regular classes and get-togethers for would be gay parents.
Australia's Capital Territory (ACT), South Africa, Israel, the European Union and most of Canada allow same-sex couples to adopt; in New Zealand they can do it singly but not as couples.
Single homosexuals can petition to adopt in 44 states and couples in 35. To date, 22 have allowed it. Florida, a holdout, now allows gay adoption. Celebrity Rosie O’Donnell, a lesbian with three children, pleaded on Prime Time Live and Fox News for laws to be changed.
Gay writer Dan Savage said in a July 5 2008 Gay Parent interview that now he and his partner have a baby, "I'm terrified I'm going to turn into Erna Bombeck."
Agencies Support Adoptions
Gloria Hochman of the US National Adoption Center, maintains adoption by gay men and women is increasing. Indeed, Rutgers University, in its March 2008 Adoption Quarterly, reports 63 percent of US public and private agencies support gay adoption of children. Andrea Schneider of California's "Adopt a Special Kid" actively seeks same sex families because of their supportive friends. According to some estimates, between eight and 16 million children are being raised in US same-sex homes.
In the November 1995 New York Court of Appeals case, In re Jacob, a lesbian had a child by artificial insemination from an unknown donor. Her partner of 19 years, wanted to adopt it although a heterosexual couple opposed them. The court ruled for the lesbian couple.
It's more usual for a lesbian to adopt her partner's children.
Surrogacy, Local, Disadvantaged And Overseas Children
Gay men and women often look overseas, although many, like Dr. Who TV actor John Barrowman, prefer to search at home. Californians Michael Morse and Bill Dunn adopted children with severe medical problems. Others like South Carolina's Tommy Starling and Jeff Littlefield, look to surrogacy. After joining a Los Angeles-based Growing Generations program they now have a two-year-old daughter, according to Proudparenting.com.
Gay-Raised Children Exhibit Impressive Psychological Strength
Writes Jeanne Howard in Expanding Resources for Children published in March 2006 by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, "social science research concludes that children reared by gay and lesbian parents fare comparably to those of children raised by heterosexuals on a range of measures of social and psychological adjustment."
In the April 2001The American Sociological Review, researchers Judith Stacey and Timothy Bilblarz wrote children raised in same-sex households show a higher level of affection, responsiveness and concern for those younger than them and "seem to exhibit impressive psychological strength".
However, Peter Sprigg of Washington's conservative Family Research Council thinks "homosexuality is a gender-identity disorder" and worries children in single-sex families will grow up like their parents.
Agencies Consider Child's Best Interests
As laws change and more homosexuals adopt either their partners' children, or through surrogacy and overseas agencies, many more opt for those kids mainstream parents don't want. Sociologists and adoption agencies working "in the child's best interest" find they provide good homes but conservatives maintain their opposition.
The copyright of the article Gays Make Good Parents in Non-traditional Adoption is owned by Ann Berkeley. Permission to republish Gays Make Good Parents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I'm Not Homophobic At All, In Fact I Have Some Very Good Gay Friends, and
And They Are of the Same Opinion. I Don't Think Gay's Should Be
Allowed To Adopt, My Reasons For Saying This Are; That To Be A Natural
Parent You Need Both Sexes To Conceive. If Your In A Male & Female
Relationship And You Can't Conceive, Then That Would Be Different. Ian
Walton, London, 'Stop Injustice Now'
Oct 17, 2008 10:30 AM
Guest :
DOUCHE!
Jan 17, 2009 9:26 AM
Guest :
I agree...I do not think that gays should be allowed to adopt... as single
female over 40 and looking into adoption, it is very hard and some
organizations will not allow me to adopt due to age and being single.
'Parents' should raise kids... not two men or two women
Jan 24, 2009 11:29 AM
Guest :
WE can't get married WE are discriminated against in the workplace
and in general public veiw WE were called a disease in the past WE didn't choose to be gay
Consider that! I DON'T WANT TO BE
GAY! but guess what? I AM! I was bullied and threatened in school because
I'm lesbian. Do you really want to take away THE JOY of having a child?
I've been through enough, and when I want to have a child in my life, then
i should be allowed to.
LOVE, Kimi!
Apr 12, 2009 4:31 PM
Guest :
i think they are no different, yes in the bedroom they are but hey,
homosexuals are just as normal as us heterosexuals. they are not they
enimes but we are. we control what they do and dont do, they should atleast
have a right to have a normal life, i.e adopt children.
Apr 19, 2009 5:59 AM
Guest :
I am a gay man who adopted two boys. NOTHING has made me happier. They have
turned out to be the most well behaved and well adjusted boys ever. Before
the adoption i was told that my 12 year old would *never* be the kind of
kid that would be affectionate, and was diagnosed with Oppositional defiant
disorder. He was very troubled. Since I have had him (almost two years) his
therapist thinks the diagnoses is bogu and has dropped it and he is the
most affectionete kid in the world. All he wanted was a Dad, and now, he
has two and he couldnt be happier So, for those of you who want to
judge..be careful. Be very careful. Youre not only passing your ignorand
narrow minded, short sighted judgement on me and other man kind, but your
denying thousands and thousands of children homes and families based on
hatred...My question to you would be: How do you sleep at night?? Donny
Apr 21, 2009 5:38 PM
Guest :
I am a heterosexual parent. The preceeding was not a very intelligent
comment. Conception has nothing to do with adoption. Obviously, the male
and female that concieved the innocent child reliquished care, and any two
loving people in a child's life would be far more benificial than none.
Furthermore, we should not attempt to limit the rights of others based on
our disapproval of their lifestyle. What two people choose in the bedroom
is irrelavant to their capacity to be effective parents. As to the older
woman who cannot adopt, you are single ad wish to adopt, yet feel a same
sex couple would be innapropriate. That is hipocracy because whether
single, gay, male, or female has no bearing on one's ability to parent if
you are a capable adult. Not allowing the homosexual community equal rights
is DISCRIMINATION, and there is no justification for that.
Apr 22, 2009 2:24 PM
Guest :
I am a heterosexual parent. The preceeding was not a very intelligent
comment. Conception has nothing to do with adoption. Obviously, the male
and female that concieved the innocent child reliquished care, and any two
loving people in a child's life would be far more benificial than none.
Furthermore, we should not attempt to limit the rights of others based on
our disapproval of their lifestyle. What two people choose in the bedroom
is irrelavant to their capacity to be effective parents. As to the older
woman who cannot adopt, you are single ad wish to adopt, yet feel a same
sex couple would be innapropriate. That is hipocracy because whether
single, gay, male, or female has no bearing on one's ability to parent if
you are a capable adult. Not allowing the homosexual community equal rights
is DISCRIMINATION, and there is no justification for that.
Apr 23, 2009 9:27 AM
Guest :
Some of you claim not to be "homophobic," but you do not believe
that homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals. Newsflash,
you are very homophobic and I feel extremely sorry for closed minded people
like you.
Apr 23, 2009 9:31 AM
Guest :
For those of you who say that you are not homophobic, but at the same time
say that homosexuals should not have the same rights as heterosexuals,
newsflash you are very homophobic. I feel sorry for closed, narrow minded
people like you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Apr 25, 2009 11:54 AM
Guest :
I came to this sight due to doing a research paper. After reading some of
the posts, I just wanted to leave my comments.
I was fortunate
to have been blessed with three wonderful children. Anyone and I mean
ANYONE, who has the desire to be a parent and has the ability to provide a
good home and future for a child, should be able TO DO SO. Who are we to be
the judge? For all those who claim to be good Christians and are
judgemental, go back and re-read your bible. You have but one Judge, and He
is an accepting one.
My comment to Ian Walton's remark,
"In Fact I Have Some Very Good Gay Friends, and And They Are of the
Same Opinion,"...I have heard this phrase in so many ways. If YOU are
making a point, who cares who your friends are and what they think. YOU are
the one making the point, you do not need back up.
My comment
to the "single woman trying to adopt"...Not all biological
parents take their responsibilities seriously, for if they did, there would
not be so many children in need of parents. Therefore, you need to re-think
your comment,"'Parents' should raise kids."
Research
has proven, time after time, that GLBT parents are equally as effective as
heterosexual parents, and successfully support a child's development. In
fact, the results of some studies suggest that lesbian mothers'and gay
fathers' parenting skills may be superior to those of matched heterosexual
couples.
One last note to those that maintain internalized
homophobia and stereotype GLBT as being anything other than good
parents...SHAME ON YOU! Take a look at the world around us! The news is
loaded with biological parents doing the unmentionable to their own
children, as well as heterosexual couples who have adopted. So get off of
your soap box!
Just my 2 cents worth
May 6, 2009 11:25 PM
Guest :
saying that couples cannot adopt kids becuase of their sexual orientation
is inhumane. just becuase you are gay or a lesbian, that doesnt change the
fact that you are loving and caring. Any homosexual couple is capable of
doing what other regular couples can do. Who cares if your gay or lesbian
or if people are staring at you becuase of being a homosexual, they dont
even know who you really are. they are judgeing you just by the sexual
orientation. people cannot understand what others are feeling until they
can connect on a personal level.
Aug 6, 2009 10:20 AM
Guest :
i am 17 an up for adoption i actually would rather have gay parent bcuz
they would be more understanding of my choice of taste and feelings i wish
ever1 would stop judging us its nt right any1 n every1 can make there own
choice its decrimination its WRONG give up n leave gayz alone
