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 | A growing number of male gays want to form a family with children; adoption is often their only route. |
| Some bisexual, gay and lesbian couples bring children from their previous families into their same-sex committed relationship. Allowing the non-birth parent the right of adoption would increase the cohesiveness of the family. |
| A growing number of lesbian couples are planning to have children together via artificial insemination. Adoption by the non-birth mother would place their relationship on a firmer foundation. |
Adoptions by gays and lesbians, either single individuals or committed couples is a controversial topic. Some arguments are:
| Those in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children point out
that
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| Opponents often believe that only a marriage consisting of one man and
one woman provides the type of environment that children need to develop
properly. Their main reasons appear to be that:
There are also two arguments that follow naturally from their disapproval of homosexual orientation and behavior:
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Gay and lesbian adoption is in a state of rapid flux, as various states and countries consider changes to their laws and regulations. Many jurisdictions now allow single adults of all sexual orientations to adopt children. However, some do not extend this to les/gay co-parenting situations. This is a situation in which one lesbian or gay wants to adopt the child of their partner.
Other hurdles to adoption by same-sex couples:
Just because a particular state has no legal impediments that automatically prevent a same-sex couple from adopting is no guarantee that they will actually be allowed to adopt. Courts and case workers generally use the welfare of the child to be the prime factor in their decisions. Many judges and case workers are disinclined to approve of such adoptions because they:
| Accept the belief, promoted by many social and religious conservatives, that people act, think, behave, parent, think in different ways, depending upon their gender. Thus, any child raised in a family headed by either two men or two women are at an extreme disadvantage, both during childhood and as adults. |
| Are concerned that there is so much homophobia in American society that a child being raised by two mothers or by two fathers will be ridiculed, rejected, harassed and physically assaulted. |
| Are homophobic themselves. |
So, just because a state will allow same-sex partners to adopt is no guarantee that a given couple will be approved for adoption.
See also our essay on foster parenting by same-sex couples.
Information on the Internet:
| The GayLawNet® web site has a section which records news items about lesgay adoption from . See: http://www.gaylawnet.com/news/ |
| The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has a list of lesbian- and gay-friendly adoption agencies in all 50 states of the U.S., and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. See: http://www.hrc.org/familynet/homelife/ |
| The Human Rights Campaign Foundation also has a description of current parenting laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They appear to update the data frequently. See: http://www.hrc.org/familynet/adoption |
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Site navigation: Home page > "Hot" religious topics > Homosexuality > Parenting > here |
Copyright © 2002 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2002-NOV-6
Date of last update: 2006-FEB-21
Author: B.A. Robinson
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