Gay Adoption

Gay adoption as it is most commonly referred to or LGBT adoption simply means the adoption of a child by a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered couple.

In the past, gay couples have had to be secretive in adopting a child due to certain prejudices that existed against homosexuality. For example, one partner would adopt the child as a single parent and the other would pretend to be a roommate or friend.

Currently in Canada a gay couple can legally marry and they are allowed to adopt, but in the United States it is dependent upon each individual state. It has definitely been outlawed in Florida, but is more common place in many other parts of the country.

I love this video about "The Fight for Lesbian and Gay Adoption Rights" watch it a see for yourself.

To date, all research in the area of gay adoption has come to the same conclusion:

1. The children of LGBT parents grow up as successfully as heterosexual parents. In fact, not a single study has found that children of gay or lesbian couples to be disadvantaged because of their parent’s sexual orientation.

2. There is no evidence to suggest that gay or lesbian couples are unfit to be parents.

3. Home environments with LGBT couples are as likely to successfully support a child’s development as those with heterosexual parents.

4. 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 – an ability that does not depend on whether a parent is gay or straight.

5. There is no evidence to suggest that the child of a gay or lesbian couple is less intelligent, suffers more from problems, is less popular or has a lower self-esteem than a child of a heterosexual couple.

6. The children of LGBT parents grow up just as happy, healthy and well-adjusted as the children of heterosexual parents.

So , Are there any different laws or guidelines for a gay adoption?

According to the Child Welfare League of American and the North American Council on Adoptable Children, they both state that gay adoptions should be evaluated just like adoptions of all other applicants.

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Some people feel that a child needs both a mother and a father, they also think that if a child is raised in a same sex environment they will be teased in school. They believe that some gay men are pedophiles and and that kids should’t have to be exposed to such behavior and the list goes on.

Recently, in an public interview, Senator John McCain, adoptive father himself, stated that he opposes gay adoption in all circumstances. July 2008.

"John McCain Opposes Gay Adoptions"

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How Do I Feel About Gay Adoption

A couple of men who I know are gay, they are in a long-term committed relationship and have recently adopted. The boy’s background was less than happy, however now he has TWO very loving parents who are doing everything within their power to change his life for the better.

They are a happy family, well-adjusted and financially and emotionally secure. THIS IS GREAT!! And I can't say that about some heterosexual parents that I know.

There are some people who will say that an adopted child will be teased about having gay parents. Kids will be kids. What child doesn’t get teased? If it isn't for having gay parents then it's for being overweight or having red hair, or different skin color.

It is up to parents to teach their children about diversity?! (No, I'm not suggesting explicit details be given, but differences are inevitable in life and can properly be put into a child's perspective.)

Gay couples adopt children for the same reason as straight couples or even single parents do - to provide for, love, and raise another human being. What part of this is not "safe and morally ok"???

It is 2008. At what point will people stop being so close-minded and live with a little positivity?

A quote from an unknown “People are like fingers, all different. But in the end they are still fingers”.

By Will Z.

As a gay adoptive parent, I would like to share my story.

My son will soon be 14, we got him in our home, as a foster child when he was 12. His birth parents had their parental rights revoked when he was 11. He was bounced around through 4 different foster homes until he was placed with us.

When straight couples want to adopt, they truely want infants, then they will let their gaurds down and "accept" toddlers. They want "cute and cuddlely". When my partner (of 16 years) and I decided to adopt, we understood that the older children are harder to place, and when we search further (through social services) we found out that children over the age of 12 have a say so in the adoptive placement, therefore we knew we wanted at least a 12 year old, so IF a problem occured, we as a FAMILY would stand together and resolve it. There have been no issues at school, the administraive staff as well as teachers know our family situation.

Our son has 2 parents, we are not a broken home. We are not a typical family, but how many typical familes line up the streets of America?

Of the over 500,000 children in foster care, more than 20% of those will become eligible for adoption, if they aren't adopted by loving homes, they age out of the system and sometimes go back to the abusive pasts that they came from.

And in closing, my sons biological father went to prison for molesting his step daughter, my childs half sister. Their mother didn't believe her own daughter, fell into DEEP depression after daddy was locked up and gave up on her responsiblities as a mother, cleaning house, washing clothes, making sure her children were bathed. My son was taking out of the home at 9, mom worked with DSS, got the kids back, and within 3 months they were in the same situation again, and were removed for good.

Maybe, just maybe, everyone should have a license to even have a baby.

***Do you have a story to share about the rigors of your child's adoption process or why not just share with us how you and your partner are proud to finally be parents, tell us about the child you adopted, what's special about your relationship. I am sure there are others who would love to hear your story, I know that I would, contact me.

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