Alicia Martinez 25 july, 2013 Nick Gorell Gay Adoption It is estimated that there are between 500,000 children

in foster care. A recent study showed that in the U.S about 1-9 million adults identify them self as being gay or lesbian. It is estimated that 1-3 million gay men where fathers. The number for lesbian women are higher approximately 33 percent reported to have their own minor child living with them. An analysis of data from the National Survey of Family Growth suggests that up to 2 million lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals expressed an interest in adoption as a path to family building (Gates, Badgett, Macomber, & Chambers, 2007). About 21,740 same sex couples had an adopted child in 2009, and up to 6,477 in 2000 (Gay and lesbian adoptive and foster care placement: can they meet the needs of waiting child). If there are so many children without parents then why are people so against it? Every child is born with a right and that right is to have someone to watch over them until they are ready to take care of themselves. I dont understand how people can be so egoistic and not think of the childs needs. The people who are against same-sex adoption say that a child was made from a male and a female that it is important for a child to have both mother and father roles in its life. They claim that same-sex parents produce less positive child outcomes than opposite-sex parents, because such families lack both a male and female parent. They also claim that the childs self esteem is going to be low and the child will be picked on at school for having same-sex parents. People who are with homosexual adoption say everyone deserves to have their basic needs as a child met: shelter, food, water, basic education, love and acceptance. They claim that it is better that someone gives the child love than the child growing up alone. That there are so many kids that are just in the steets without a home because at times there are no foster home for them to stay at and after the age of 18 when they dont need a foster home anymore the children now adults look into gangs into a way of getting love and acceptance. Also adoption agencies have made it

difficult for people from a different sexual orientation to adopt. That just puts even more kids into the streets. During the last decade, there has been increasing visibility of families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents. There also has been more affirming practice on the part of child welfare and adoption professionals when considering LGBT families as foster and adoptive families. The majority of professional organizations dedicated to upholding the best interests of the children and advocating for best practices in adoption that there is no valid reason to prevent children and youth from being placed with qualified LGBT foster and adoptive families. If the professional can see that the LGBT family capable to raise a child than I think we should all be able to see that, that would be in the best interest for the child. Myths and misperceptions about lesbian and gay parents continue to present the greatest obstacle to adoption for LGBT adults. In recent years, however, a growing body of research on LGBT parents and their children is clear and affirming about the ability of LGBT individuals and same-sex couples to parent, and it alleviates concerns about the outcomes of children raised by LGBT parents. It is essential that professionals have access to and can draw from evidence-based information about LGBT adoptive families in making decisions in the best interests of children (Working With Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Families in Adoption). Many LGBT individuals can relate with many of the difficult feelings that children in foster care have experienced. They have a deep understanding of how it feels to be "different". These insights give them the empathy and strong sense of advocacy that is required to meet the needs of children adopted from foster care. The vast consensus of all the studies shows that children of same-sex parents do as well as children whose parents are heterosexual in every way (Gay and lesbian adoptive and foster care placement). Children raised in families in which a parent is gay or lesbian do not appear to be affected negatively by their experience. No major difference found in self-esteem among children of lesbian mothers and those of heterosexual mothers. When investigating anxiety, depression, and consequent

contact with a health professional children where the same, also found no difference in terms of emotional difficulties, behavioral difficulties, and hyperactivity. Research did however find that children raised by heterosexual mothers generally experienced more psychiatric problems and were referred to a psychiatric clinic more often than children raised by lesbian mothers. Children with lesbian or gay parents show more empathy for social diversity, and are less confined by gender stereotypes (Envisaging the Adoption Process to Strengthen Gay and Lesbian Headed Families: Recommendations for Adoption Professionals). Many people dispute that if kids are raised by GLBT parents the child would come out gay. The sexual orientation of youth does not have any correlation with the sexual orientation of the families in which they were raised (Golombok & Tasker, 1996). People also reason that the kids will be sexually abused by their homosexual parent but studies show that child molestation establishes no correlation between homosexuality and child molestation. In fact, research shows most child sexual abuse cases involve a heterosexual male abusing a young female. A recent report reveals that 90 percent of all pedophiles are heterosexual males (Gay and Lesbian adoptive and foster care placements). Child welfare agencies most often seek adoptive families among traditional heterosexual twoparent or single families than homosexuals. Thats why gay and lesbian adoptive and foster parents are choosing to misrepresent or conceal their sexual orientation out of fear of being denied the opportunity to adopt a child. Research has shown that less than one-fifth of adoption agencies actively attempt to recruit adoptive parents from the lesbian and gay community (Gates et al., 2007). As a result, many LGBT adults feel that agencies will not welcome them or will treat them as second-class applicants. Research has shown that many agencies apply a "hierarchy" of placement, sometimes unconsciously, in which priority is given to heterosexual couples (Ryan, 2000). Studies have also revealed that gay and lesbian couples are often treated as families of last resort when placement decisions are being made (Hicks, 1996). In many communities, there are significant numbers of LGBT adults who would welcome the opportunity to foster or adopt if they knew they were wanted and needed and would be

treated with respect (Working With Lesbian). The effect of this is that some children will languish longer in foster care without permanence. Also a lot of gay, lesbian parents have been lessened by where adoption agencies have LGBT parents who were considered as a resource for "certain children." For example, in the mid- too late- 1980s, gay men were allowed to be foster/ adoptive parents to babies and children with HIV/AIDS. I think this still happens as adoption agencies only give out last resort children to gays and lesbians. If they consider gay and lesbians singles and couples as a potential adoptive families would expand the possibilities for permanent child placement. A lot of children dont even think about the sexuality that their parents are going to be, they just want a home where someone is going to love them and respect them. The progress for same-sex adoption is the same as for heterosexual adoption. All parents are checked to see if they are financially and emotionally stable to adopt a child, they are all closely evaluated by social services (Gay and lesbian adoptive and foster care placement). People need to respect their lifestyles. Homosexuals are as responsible, loving and caring just as much as anyone else. They need to be treated equally and be given the same rights as heterosexuals. They have a heart and feelings just the same, its not like their hurting anyone by adopting. They are actually making this earth a better place and it would be much better if everyone could stop being so stereotypical. The community of people who are LGBT is as diverse as the general public and includes all races, ethnicities, income levels, and education levels, as well as rural, suburban, and urban dwellers. Among different ethnic groups, religious traditions, and cultures, the issue of sexual orientation is viewed and addressed differently, and, as a child welfare professional, you can anticipate some variation among LGBT adoptive families. For example, LGBT families may differ in terms of the level of acceptance they experience among their families of origin, what terms and language they use to identify themselves and any partner (if applicable), and the extent to which they are honest and "out" about their own identity and relationship status. It is ridiculous that the U.S. prides itself on providing equality to all, but gays dont get the same rights as straight people. Gays cant do a lot of things like get married, go to the army or just as little as donate

blood. All kids deserve a parent and if a homosexual can be that childs parent, then lets not denied that child the right to have love. There is no difference between parents who are heterosexual and those with homosexual orientation when it comes to parenting, it is the same. I am with homosexual adoption because look at all the orphans in the world. Their are many kids living in the streets without a family nor a home. If someone can give them love, care and a stable family, then let it be. If for some reason, there was some inheritable emotional or physical danger to the children, then I would say "no" but since no danger exists, then there is no legal reason to deny gay adoption. There is nothing that heterosexual couples can offer that homosexuals can't. Just because you are straight doesn't mean you can provide a stable home better then someone who isn't. Straight people, just as well as gay people, can be horrible parents. That is not defined by your sexuality. People argue that children need a mother and a father growing up but in the United States, kids can be adopted by a single parent. That states that children dont need both female and male parents, the kids will grow up just fine. Many people's arguments are "Gay adoption shouldn't be allowed because they will be without a mother/father figure" but homosexuals have familys. The child can see sisters or brothers, even cousins of the parent as a role model. My role models have been my parents but I also look up to my aunts a lot. When I need to talk to a girl and my mom is busy I know I can always count on my aunts. They have taught me how to do my make up, do my hair and all the girl things that my dad cant teach me how to do. There is no solid research that shows that having same sex parents causes any sort of damage to a child. People dont want to let homosexuals adopt for their own selfishness. I've seen gay couples with children and those children are open-minded. The parent treats its child with lots of love and respect. They raise their kids no different than straight parents. In most cases, children and youth do not have rigid ideas or beliefs about sexual orientation and are open to different families. However, when a youth is resistant to the idea of being placed with an LGBT individual or same-sex couple, be prepared to engage the youth in a discussion of his or her concerns, keeping in mind that the youth may hold views based on myths, stereotypes, and misinformation about LGBT people. It is important, however, to respect the

youths position, even if you disagree, which may ultimately necessitate the need to proceed to identify other families for the best individualized placement choice for that particular child or youth.

Works Cited Gates, G. J., Badgett, L. M., Macomber, J. E., & Chambers, K. (2007). Adoption and foster care by lesbian and gay parents in the United States. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. Goldberg, A. E. (2009). Lesbian and gay parents and their children: Research on the family life c ycle.Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Golombok, S., & Tasker, F. (1996). Do parents influence the sexual orientation of their children? Findings from a longitudinal study of lesbian families. Developmental Psychology, 32(1), 3-11 Ryan, Scott D., Sue Pearlmutter, and Victor Groza. "Coming Out Of The Closet: Opening Agencies To Gay And Lesbian Adoptive Parents." Social Work 49.1 (2004): 85-95. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Aug. 2013. Brooks, D., & Goldberg, S. (2001). Gay and Lesbian Adoptive and Foster Care Placements: Can They Meet the Needs of Waiting Children?. Social Work, 46(2), 147-157 Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2011). Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families in adoption. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Childrens Bureau.