Cherokee Gonzalez
Same-Sex Adoption
The adoption of
children by homosexual couples has been a long debated topic. Some
arguments suggest that homosexuals are unfit to be parents due to the
high rate of drug abuse and suicide, while others suggest that all
children are in need of a home where they can be loved, and that the
sexuality of a legal guardian makes little difference in their
ability to parent (Patterson 2, Moyes).
Truth be told, not
enough evidence has been collected to support either of these
arguments, and the research that has been conducted is limited to
adoptive parents rather than parents in general, along with never
distinguishing between children adopted by biological family members
and children that are adopted into an entirely new family (Patterson
2). However, while more evidence is needed before an argument can be
fully supported, one study suggests that a parent's sexuality has
little affect on the development of the child.
This study investigated child development and parenting in 106
families headed by 27 lesbian, 29 gay, and 50 heterosexual couples (80% White, M¼ 42
years) with young
adopted children (41% White, M¼ 3 years). Parents and teachers
reported that, on
average, children were developing in typical ways. Measures of
children’s adjustment,
parenting approaches, parenting stress, and couple relationship
adjustment were not
significantly associated with parental sexual orientation. However,
several family
process variables—parenting stress, parenting approaches, and
couple relationship
adjustment—were found to be significantly associated with
children’s adjustment,
regardless of parental sexual orientation. Implications for
understanding the role of
gender and sexual orientation in parenting, as well as for legal and
policy debates,
are discussed (Parenting and Child Developing in Adoptive Families).
Organizations such
as the American Physiological and Medical Associations largely
support LGBT adoption rights, using the lack of evidence against LGBT
parents as their justification (AMA Policies on GLBT Issues, APA
Adoption and Co-Parenting of Children by Same-Sex Couples). On the
contrary, Britain's Catholic adoption agency has threatened to no
longer find homes for children if they were required to allow LGBT
peoples to adopt. The Muslim Council of Britain and Catholic
Charities of Boston share a similar stance (Wen). Additionally, a
poll in 2007 stated that 57% of the United States population supports
LGBT adoption, while 43% were against it (McCain Blasted for Gay
Adoption Opposition), further expressing the wide disagreement on the
issue.
This is a link to a website that explains same-sex adoption laws in the United States.
Works
cited
"AMA Policy Regarding
Sexual Orientation." American Medical Association -
Physicians, Medical Students & Patients (AMA). N.p., n.d.
Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/glbt-advisory-committee/ama-policy-regarding-sexual-orientation.page>.
"Co-Parenting of
Children by Same-Sex Couples." American Physiological
Association . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 April
2012.<http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200214.aspx>.
Forssell, Stephen, Rachel Farr, and Charlotte Patterson. "Parenting
and Child Development in Adoptive Families." Applied
Developmental Science 1 (2012): 177. Print.
"McCain blasted for gay adoption opposition -
USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment,
Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. N.p., 15
July 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-15-mccain_N.htm>.
Moyes,
Gordon. "GordonMoyes.com » Parliamentary Inquiries – Same Sex
Adoption." GordonMoyes.com .
N.p., 26 Feb. 2009. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2009/02/26/parliamentary-inquiries-same-sex-adoption/>.
Wen,
Petricia. "Catholic Charities stuns state, ends adoptions - The
Boston Globe." Boston.com
- Boston, MA news, breaking news, sports, video.
N.p., 11 Mar. 2006. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.boston.com/news/local/ar
No comments:
Post a Comment