Last week, we had a good discussion regarding
marriage equality, and other rights denied to homosexuals in class. We also covered
the Full Faith and Credit Clause earlier this quarter. You are literally living
history when it comes to marriage equality.
President Obama became the first President in history to go on the
record in support of marriage equality.
After decades of avoiding the issue, the Supreme Court is heard two
cases in 2013 that drastically affected our country’s stance on the issue. For
this week’s blog I would like to expand on that issue and discuss adoptions by
homosexual couples.
Adoptions laws differ from state to state. Mississippi and Utah have banned same sex couples from adopting. Other states allow second parent adoption by law. Second parent adoption is when one person adopts the biological child of his partner. These states include: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. There are 16 states that definitely joint adoptions by gay couples, which includes: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
Adoptions laws differ from state to state. Mississippi and Utah have banned same sex couples from adopting. Other states allow second parent adoption by law. Second parent adoption is when one person adopts the biological child of his partner. These states include: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. There are 16 states that definitely joint adoptions by gay couples, which includes: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
Opponents of same sex adoptions, often say that children being raised with same-sex parents will have psychological issues, be bullied or teased at school, have unclear gender role models and perhaps even become gay or lesbian themselves. Supporters of adoptions by same sex couples include the National Adoption Center, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Pediatrics, all of which state that adoptions by gay or lesbian couples do not negatively affect children.
The issue of same sex adoption is one that inspires debate across America and will probably be left up to the courts to decide, however one thing is clear: we all want what is best for our children. So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of same sex adoptions? Why do you feel the way you do?” Answers are due by Wednesday, March 18th, 2015. Just for fun, here's a video I saw recently that I thought proved a great point that love has no boundaries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cen7NhfpMVE
Seeing how I am not against marriage equality, same sex adoptions do not really bother me. I mean, in some ways I could see how it could bother others because a lot of people think every child should have a female mother and male father and I think that same sex adoption may make it confusing for the child. Even though the child may be confused as first, I think if a same sex couple adopts they should come up with a plan in the beginning on how they can tell the child why it is that he or she does not have a female mother and male father, and of course telling them at an appropriate age. I feel that two mothers or two fathers are still capable of raising an amazing child in a healthy home environment just like any other normal couple. I feel this way because I have watched reality TV shows that show same sex parents that have adopted children and the children were loved just as much and taken care of just as well as any other normal couple with children. I don't see why so many people get bothered by marriage equality, let people love who they love and make decisions on their own, it is their life NOT YOURS!
ReplyDeleteI believe same-sex couples should be aloud to adopt. I know a gay couple you make not want a kid but love caring for their rescue dog like they where their kids both work hard and I have seen how they act. I say if they past the adoption tests and such same-sex couple can be parents.
ReplyDeleteI believe in same sex marriage. We don't really choose who we fall in love with. It all happens the way it's suppose to happen. These couples definitely deserve to have the right to adopt. I don't see how it could be a problem. You'll have to loving parents, right? Why can't they just have a normal family without the fear of being judged by their decisions.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I would much rather have a child be adopted by a same sex couple than being in and out of foster homes. There is no link between kids being bullied or having psychological issues. If children are being bullied by other kids it's because the kids have been taught to act that way and see it as ok. All of these hateful outlooks such as homophobia and racism are taught. They aren't hereditary.
ReplyDeleteWith so many children in this country up for adoption and as many foster children, why not let same sex couples adopt. Science has already proven that sexual orientation is not a choice, you are born straight, gay or transgender, and its has also been proven that a gay couple has no effect on the sexuality of a child if it is raised by them. All that matters is that a child is raised in a loving family, and for the ones that say different are ignorant and really do not care for the welfare of a child.
ReplyDeleteSame sex adoptions should be allowed in every state, and the states that refuse this to same sex couples are holding America back. Not only by keeping deserving children out of loving homes, but by also being close minded. As Jeff said, science has proven that there is a gay gene, and it has also proven that children will not be gay because their parents are. Therefore, gay marriage and adoption should both be legalized nation wide. These backwards phobias are denying minorities like gays their right to pursue happiness.
ReplyDeleteI believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children. As long as the child is loved and raised properly, it shouldn't matter if the parents are of the same gender. To think otherwise is extremely ignorant. I actually have a family member who is in a same-sex relationship and, while they really aren't the type to want kids, I wouldn't want them to be denied the right to adopt should they decide to want a kid.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on this subject is i don't really see anything wrong with having an same sex adoption. To me i think that it is very foolish for people to say that if the child has homosexual parents the child will become gay themselves. Having homosexual parents shouldn't determine the sexuality of the child. It Makes no sense to be honest. And to know that the child is being picked on shouldn't be allowed because their parents are gay, it's really ridiculous. I feel this way is because i believe in equality. Everybody should marry whoever they want to. despite their sexual orientation. I don't really see the big deal about a gay couple adopting a child, i mean they're human so it really shouldn't be a big deal. I think that same sex adoption is ok it's not like their hurting anybody.As long as they are being good to the child then it should be fine. So i don't really see the problem. That is my viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteI think that it doesn't make a difference if a child is raised by parents who have the same sex. What really matters is if the child is in good hands and if the parents have the means to take care of the child.
ReplyDeleteI think same-sex couples should have the exact same rights to adopt as heterosexual parents do. I don't see how having gay parents could cause psychological issues for the child; if the child gets loving parents, they will help the child through any issues they may face regardless of their sexuality. This is also true of gender role models. I'm pretty sure that single parents can be allowed to adopt, even though that means the child will be completely missing one of their gender role models, so having two parents would still be beneficial even if they are the same sex.
ReplyDeleteAs for being bullied at school, I can agree that that might be a problem for the child, but fortunately times are changing and people are becoming more accustomed to the idea of homosexuality being acceptable. It's likely that this will only continue to be an issue if people keep imposing restrictions and stereotypes against gay people. Which brings me to the most ridiculous point to their argument- having gay parents will not affect the sexuality of the child. It's not a choice, it's hard-wired into you. Who you have as parents can't and won't affect how a child grows up sexually. Therefore, as long as the parents in question are good parents and take good care of their child, I see no reason why same-sex couples should be denied the right to adopt a child.
Everyone should be able to give a child a loving home, no matter the sexual orientation of the parents. Tell me, what homosexual etc parent has ever given up a child? Do you know of one? Not only do studies show that LGBT+ parents adopt children that are disabled, but they also adopt children who are older. If every homosexual parent could adopt a child, the amount of foster children would be practically nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteI think if we're going to give people the right to marry whoever they want (as it should be) I don't see the debate on why they can't raise a child together. I don't believe being a proper parent has anything to do with gender. Even if a child has a mother and a father, maybe they're both highly into sports. Or maybe the father is uniquely feminine. I don't believe our body parts or interests (to an extent) should play a part in whether or not we make good parents, if anything I think we should be encouraging adoption. Why continue to reproduce in an already over-populated world instead of giving a homeless child a loving family?
ReplyDeleteI feel as though any child adopted into a home with two loving parents would agree that the gender of each parent poses as a small issue. Sexual orientation should not determine the right to raise children nor does it determine quality of parenting. However, on the opposing side, some may argue that two women cannot raise a man, or vice versa. But I believe it is no different than a single mother raising young boys.
ReplyDeleteI am strongly biased in this issue. I am a lesbian and I don't see why I shouldnt be able to adopt a child. If I can provide it with a loving and nurturing home then what's the issue? Not only that but there are 5x as many lbgt+ parents wanting to adopt than there are children in foster care. We hear countless horror stories about growing up feeling unloved and unwanted in foster care, and allowing lbgt+ families to adopt could solve this problem, isn't having two loving parents of any gender better than no parents? And to anyone who says that two women can't raise a son,or two men cant raise a daughter, i say that this shows an extreme gender bias and that you think gender fits into two nice little boxes. Which is completely untrue, gender is incredibly fluid and saying that women can't raise boys because they are not "masculine" is exceptionally narrowminded and ignores the diverse and complex personalities that are humans. Everyone has masculine and feminine qualities so why is it so impossible to image two women raising a boy and two men raising a daughter.
ReplyDeletefinal thoughts: love has no gender. growing up in a loving and nurturing environment is infinitely better than growing up feeling unwanted, and the heart doesnt really care what gender that love is coming from.
I am strongly biased in this issue. I am a lesbian and I don't see why I shouldnt be able to adopt a child. If I can provide it with a loving and nurturing home then what's the issue? Not only that but there are 5x as many lbgt+ parents wanting to adopt than there are children in foster care. We hear countless horror stories about growing up feeling unloved and unwanted in foster care, and allowing lbgt+ families to adopt could solve this problem, isn't having two loving parents of any gender better than no parents? And to anyone who says that two women can't raise a son,or two men cant raise a daughter, i say that this shows an extreme gender bias and that you think gender fits into two nice little boxes. Which is completely untrue, gender is incredibly fluid and saying that women can't raise boys because they are not "masculine" is exceptionally narrowminded and ignores the diverse and complex personalities that are humans. Everyone has masculine and feminine qualities so why is it so impossible to image two women raising a boy and two men raising a daughter.
ReplyDeletefinal thoughts: love has no gender. growing up in a loving and nurturing environment is infinitely better than growing up feeling unwanted, and the heart doesnt really care what gender that love is coming from.