...Should Same Sex Couples Have the Same Adoption Rights as Heterosexual Couples? Krystal Davis COM/220 March 13, 2012 Barbara Plyler Should Same Sex Couples Have the Same Adoption Rights as Heterosexual Couples? In 2008, President Barack Obama stated there are too many children who need loving parents to deny one group of people adoption rights (eQuality, 2005). A child will benefit from a healthy, loving home, whether the parents are gay or not (eQuality, 2005). With that statement in 2008 from the individual who holds the most powerful authority in the United States, why are gay and lesbian couples today still battling adoption laws? When in fact while trying to adopt and raise children a couple’s sexual orientation should not be a factor. Homosexuals should not have to battle or circumvent adoption laws. The American family does not look the same as it did 30 years ago; therefore the adoption laws should not be the same either. Consequently, the adoption laws for some states are changing as the world evolves and realizes that a child’s well-being is more important than his or her parent’s sexual preferences. Currently, gay and lesbian couples are prohibited from adopting in only two states, Utah and Mississippi (Tavernise, 2011). Equally important is the exclusion on marriage and equal parenting rights for both parents. Some same sex households face the inequality in parental rights when children are included from previous heterosexual relationships...
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...Bringing Families Together Adoption isn’t about finding children for families; it’s about finding families for children. There are millions of orphans and making same-sex adoption legal will allow them to find these children loving families. Adoption is an excellent solution to significantly decreasing the number of orphans there are in the world. Same-sex couples are a perfect opportunity for this because there isn’t a chance they will be able to naturally reproduce on their own. There is no real evidence that children are negatively affected by being raised by same-sex parents. However, many people disagree with same-sex couples being parents due for numerous reasons. It is not as easy for same-sex couples to adopt as it is for traditional couples. Same-sex couples are just like regular couples when it comes to the important characteristics of a strong and healthy relationship. Yet, they endure so much more stress and problems due to their sexual preferences. Even after all the stress, the love for the child is still the same at the end of the day. Others may disagree and say that gay adoption creates a major change in the family structure, claiming that it is important for a child to have both a mother and a father. However, many single parents who struggle finically are allowed to have kids or adopt if they chose to do so, so why prevent same-sex couples, who could provide and excellent home, from having children to call their own and to raise. A parent’s sexuality...
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...LGBT Adoption New Jersey’s statewide parenting legislation espouses a progressive stance on the matters of same-sex parenting and child care in the processes of adoption and foster parenting. The Garden State allows for same-sex adoption; allows single homosexuals to adopt; and allows second parent same-sex adoption (Lifelong Adoptions, 2013). New Jersey has passed progressive laws and policies that prohibit discrimination charged against LGBT individuals in the adoption process (Lifelong Adoptions, 2013). New Jersey state law also bans discrimination against LGBT individuals in the foster parent process (Lifelong Adoptions, 2013). New Jersey Statutes Annotated 9:3-43 enables for any person to adopt permitted the said person(s) pass a background investigation and meet adoption criteria for eligibility (Onelce, 2012). Unmarried joint adoptive parents petitioning to adopt a child can do so because of N.J.S.A. 9:3-43 (Onelce, 2012). In “Re-adoption of Two Children” by H.N.R., 666 A.2d 535 (Onelce, 2012) addresses second parent adoption; this statute exercises the possibility for an individual to petition for shared rights of custody with a parent who already possesses legal parental custody of a child. Several states prohibit joint adoption due to unmarried status. This statute is favorable for unmarried parents seeking to adopt in New Jersey. This New Jersey statute provides for an overall tolerant atmosphere for LGBT individuals and couples looking to adopt or become foster...
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...HEAD: SAME SEX ADOPTION-AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Same Sex Adoption- An Ethical Dilemma The topic of homosexual equality is a very controversial one for many people; from legalizing gay marriage to inequality in the workplace. Homosexual adoption is another issue that is overlooked by many. The view of a happy and healthy family in the United States has always been looked at as a traditional mother, father, 2.5 kids a dog and a goldfish and that the child’s wellbeing is determined by having a good, strong mother and a father to teach and guide their children to be the best they can be. However, what about the opposite? Many same-sex couples are ready and willing to adopt and have a family of their own, but many states have laws in place that ban same-sex couples from being able to adopt. This ban on same-sex adoption leaves thousands of children without families in the foster care system or in unstable households where they will never reach their full potential. Currently, there are 130,000 children in the foster care system without a permanent family (Ryan, Averett, & Nalavany, 2009). Giving same-sex couples the opportunity to adopt could lessen the load and give more children loving, healthy, and happy permanent families. As of today, 24 states recognize same-sex marriage and only 19; including Washington DC permit same-sex couples to jointly adopt; which allows a couple to adopt a child at the same time. 13 states permit second-parent adoption and 6...
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...enough same-sex couples or straight individuals who are qualified and willing to adopt the many children that currently reside within the foster care system. Many can not support these children, they have biological children of their own, or they simply do not want children at this point in life. The final result remains, an alarming number of unwanted children in need of stability and unconditional love. There is a solution to this devastating issue. There is a rising amount of openly gay couples and some of them would love nothing more than to have a family of their own, but it is still illegal for homosexual couples to adopt children in some states and these state governments continue to make this process difficult for all involved. Throughout the United States, and in other countries as well, there are kids awaiting a forever family and eager...
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...Child Adoption In The Gay Marriage Communities The main question is why child adoption in gay marriages is the one aspect of society that will experience the greatest amount of social change over the next ten years. The reason is because, the gay communities are becoming more relevant in today’s society. What was once a “kept in the closet” subject is now emerging into an everyday aspect in people’s lives. As we all know and as far back as many of us can remember, a child was to be raised within a household of a mother and a father. Many people think there are certain aspects a mother and a father can offer a child to grow up, develop, and become a versatile young man or woman that same sex men or women can not provide for a child. The question in society is; Can a child be raised correctly within a home with same sex parents or will the child’s growth or development be tainted as if they were raised with no parents at all? Most Americans in society would say “Yes” a child or children would be affected by being raised in a same sex house hold, but there is a small portion of Americans who would disagree. Many states across the US prohibit adoption in a same sex household. Not only the couples are not able to have a family of their own, but children in foster care are also prohibited from being awarded a loving home. Each state throughout America have different views on the same sex adoption process. Many states oppose the same sex adoption process, but there...
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...Running Head: GAY AND LESBIAN ADOPTION Gay and Lesbian Adoption Argumentative Emily Stroud Everest University Abstract Lesbian and gay adoption has been widely controversial across the globe. This social issue is tremendously discussed by religious, political and social groups which have been providing numerous statistics, figures and major researches on the effects of same sex couples to the mental and emotional growth of children. At the inception of the 21st century, many countries have shifted and adjusted to different kind of perspective. Many government leaders have actually allowed same sex marriages as well gay and lesbian adoption. This paper aims to provide the readers some facts and research studies concerning the impact of same sex couples to the upbringing of their adopted children. This paper intends to open the minds of the audience concerning both sides of the issue. The paper does not provide any preference or does not promote any viewpoint relating to religious teaching or significant educational research. The information regarding same sex adoption is presented below and depends on one’s perspective whether or not to consider it acceptable on your standards and morals. Introduction Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adoption or same sex adoption has been considered legal during the inception of the 21st century. There...
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...Gay adoption is the adoption of children by same sex couples. Based on this topic, I’d like to look into the question “Are children adopted by gay parents more likely to have the psychological problem?” And the thesis I stated is that gay couples are able to provide a warm and normal environment for adopted children to grow up. I want to focus on this topic from the current situation of gay adoption, gay couples are capable of raising children and children adopted by gay parents are the same as those who born in heterosexual families. Nowadays, the homosexual people are coming into public view and are accepted by more and more people. It has attracted much concern to improve and protect their rights, such as the Gay-Right Movement which refers...
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...Foundation for Adoption, only one hundred thousand of them are eligible for adoptions. Unfortunately, last year there were qualified adoptive parents available for only twenty thousand of these children. The vast majority was not lucky enough to be chosen for adoption because they are known as “hard-to-place” children due to their age, race, or a disability. Many of them live in institutions where they do not receive personalized attention and become run-aways. The ones who stay end up living in more than twenty different foster homes before they are of legal age. Data collected in 2014 by the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting...
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...Adoption has help many couples start a family. Although there has been many ups and downs for couples during the process, some recent main issues have been rather same sex couples should have the right to adopt and start and family, and also rather race should be a consideration when a couple is adopting a child. While many argue that same sex couples shouldn’t adopt and that race should be a consideration when adopting, I believe same sex couples should be give the opportunity to adopt and start a family as well as to how race shouldn’t be a consideration when adopting. Adoption affects many children in different ways. Rather it being of their different race or because they have same sex parents. Although for some it might not affect them...
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...Should Same Sex Couples be allowed to adopt? Tanisha Culberson 08/30/2015 Should Same Sex Couples be allowed to adopt? Society's image of a perfect family includes a father and a mother of the opposite sex. People feel this is what's best for a child. What a bunch of baloney this is just a stereotype. What happened to the best interest of the child? Why are there so many same-sex couples getting rejected by adoption agencies? Why are there so many children being kicked out of the school system because they have gotten too old. In the United States, more than 397,122 children are waiting to be adopted. Approximately 2,000,000 same-sex couples are interested in adopting, but religious groups are against it, and a lot of adoption agencies associated with different religious groups. Most religious groups feel as though same-sex couples should not even marry. They believe in God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, who gave them the right to judge? Same-sex couple's path to parenting is not easy. It depends on state laws and lots of money. In addition to same-sex adoption, it could help move children out of the welfare system, which would create more money for the state. Homosexual parents are more motivated and committed because they are parents by choice, not by accident. How many children are placed up for adoption by opposite sex couples? How many children are up for adoption by same-sex couples? Sexual orientation does not influence good parenting. People should...
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...Mike Thiesing Writing Workshop December 1, 2011 Gay Adoption in America How could this be fair? Same sex couples have been struggling to gain rights to adopt. Some have been successful, while others have not. But the question is not how just this issue is to the couple, but how fair it is to the child being adopted. The answer to this question is that it is not fair at all to the child who is adopted by a gay couple. Today, many same sex couples are fighting for the right to be able to adopt a child of their own without any restrictions. There are many people who are for this, but who are equally countered by many people against the issue. So the real question is, should gay couples be able to adopt children? Same sex adoption should not be allowed considering the effects, both physically and psychologically, that it will have on the child adopted. It is often believed that opposite sex relatives and friends can stand in as role models for the children so they can have both a mother and father. However, this is not an affective way of raising a child. According to “The Week” in their article about gay adoption rights, a child must have both a father and mother to have proper role models. An outside role model such as a family friend or relative is not the same as having a mother and father at home. This article also says that fewer male teachers are available as role models, so children of lesbian couples may find it more difficult to find this role model they need...
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...discusses and defends the argument that same-sex couples should be granted the right to adopt. Although every state in the United States has recently passed laws allowing these types of adoption to take place, many people still oppose and protest against it. As this controversial topic grows even more evident, it's important for people to realize the facts and statistics of homosexual couples adopting in order for them to consciously pick a side to agree with. This paper will present you with three valid reasons on why these parents should be treated equally, along with details to support them. Keywords: adoption, homosexual couples, human rights Adoption Rights for Same-Sex Couples To quote Anne Hathaway, “Love is a human experience, not a political statement.” Why then, is love often restricted by the laws of a state or...
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...know, and “God loves all his children" is somehow forgotten, but we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago” (Haggerty & Lewis). Same sex marriage has been a hot topic in the United States for a very long time. This issue is highly important because marriage is a human right and it a basic moral that all should know. Many people are against gay marriage because according to many right wing conservatives being gay is a choice and that it is against what we learn from the bible. Same sex marriage should be legalized in every state in the United States because it is a basic human right, it shows family values and anti- discrimination, will increase children adoption rates and same sex marriage will also bring financial benefits. Gay marriage should be legal in the United States because it is a basic human right. Although conservatives will continue to debate the issues of gay rights and same sex marriages for years to come, there has been many improvements. Many individuals that oppose gay marriage will “come to understand the fundamental injustice of subjecting gay and lesbian Americans to their own form of Jim Crow rather than sharing in equal rights for all” (Lampo). There is no different from what this nation did to African Americans during the Civil rights movement, to what we are doing to same-sex couples today, not allowing them to get marries. Recognized federal civil rights law in the United States is grounded in the U.S. Constitution as interpreted...
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...Adoption Jansen 1 Adoption: Same-Sex Couples Kim Jansen Business and Professional Writing Professor G. Micevski September 29, 2011 Adoption Jansen 2 There is an alarming rate of children in need of homes in the United States. This year 423,773 children are in foster care awaiting homes (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2011). With a number so high, why are we discriminating against same-sex couples adopting? Homosexuals are regular people like everyone else. They have dreams of having families and raising children just like everyone else. They shouldn’t be labeled unfit parents due to their sexual orientation. Love, trust and understanding are what families are made of. I stand up for what I believe in, and I believe that if a homosexual couple can provide a loving, nurturing, and safe environment for a child then they should be deemed worthy of parenting and allowed to adopt! Controversy exists as to whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt and many reasons are given. Some of these are that the child will turn gay; gay and lesbian relationships don’t last; and children who live with same-sex parents suffer more emotionally and mentally than children who live with heterosexual parents. Living in a homosexual environment does not make children become homosexuals. Homosexuality is a natural occurrence, not one that is learned. Studies have found that children raised...
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