Gay and Lesbian Adoption: The Saga Continues

AKA2D '91 · #1 03-30-2002, 03:08 PM

"The opponents say placing young children in the care of gay men and lesbians puts them at risk of pedophilia and an abnormal upbringing. (

I didn't write this, I'm coping this from a newspaper article)

The supporters say children are also at risk of abuse or neglect by heterosexual parents, and the rigid restrictions, including outright bans in Florida, Mississippi and Utah, consign tens of thousands of of hard to place children to life in numerous foster homes without stable parents or loving family support."

-Bruce Alpert

What are your thoughts?

PenguinTrax · #2 03-30-2002, 07:15 PM

I think if heterosexual parents can end up with gay children, then gay parents can certainly raise heterosexual children. The studies have shown that there is no greater risk of sexual abuse or a tendency to become homosexual if the parents are homosexual. The bit about pedophilia, etc. is crap, IMO. Do you know how many children are sexually abused in a traditional family setting? It's sickening.

I would rather have children adopted into (any) loving home than be pushed around the foster system only to be booted out into the streets at 18.

I'm a Floridian (now) and I think the anti-gay adoption law sucks.

ClassyLady · #3 03-30-2002, 07:54 PM

I don't think that your parents' sexual orientation has anything to do with how you'll turn out. I know some pretty f'ed up people who had straight parents and some very nice people with gay parents. Why does it matter?

Our focus should be assuring that adopted children are going to stable, healthy families that are going to love and nurture them. There are plenty of gay families that meet this requirement and that could properly raise some of the children in our foster care system.

And the statement that children raised in gay households are more prone to pedophilia and abnormalities is based in pure ignorance. It is based on the assumption that all gays are pedophiles. We all have to know that it is just not true.

If we, as a society, are saying that gays cannot adopt, what's next? Are we going to decide that they cannot have their own children either.

darling1 · #4 03-30-2002, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PnguinTrax
I think if heterosexual parents can end up with gay children, then gay parents can certainly raise heterosexual children. The studies have shown that there is no greater risk of sexual abuse or a tendency to become homosexual if the parents are homosexual. The bit about pedophilia, etc. is crap, IMO. Do you know how many children are sexually abused in a traditional family setting? It's sickening.

I would rather have children adopted into (any) loving home than be pushed around the foster system only to be booted out into the streets at 18.

I'm a Floridian (now) and I think the anti-gay adoption law sucks.

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!!

I lived in a home in which there was extended family and my father was VERY active in my life after he divorced my mother and I still went through some very traumatic things. There are too many children in the foster care system and I am quite sure they really could give a rat's behind if they had 2 mommies or 2 daddies. We need to get off of this Ozzie and Harriet/Huxtable thought process and recognize that family doesn't necessarily mean mom, dad and 2.5 children. That is one ideal but not the only one. The most important things in determining a good family is stability, unconditional love and an unwavering desire to give your child(ren) the best home life possible.

Jody · #5 03-31-2002, 01:12 AM

The federal government will not go into a gay person's home and take their biological child unless the child is being abused. What the government is saying is that the STATE will not allow a practice that currently, in the State of Florida is against the law.

If gays and lesibians want to adopt children, they have 47 other states in which to do it. The states that probably don't have specific laws against it, proably don't have laws that specifically allow it either.

In a democracy, individuals have the right to free expression without the fear of reprisal, (did I spell that correctly). I for one, would be disappointed if the State of Florida, changed the law.

It is a sad state of affairs that Florida has the number of children in foster care, which I think is more IMPORTANT. The issue shouldn't be about whether gay people can adopt children in foster care, the issue is WHY ARE THERE SO MANY CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM? The collective energy should be focused on reducing the children in the system, not accepting that the problem will increase.

IowaHawkeye · #6 03-31-2002, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jody
If gays and lesibians want to adopt children, they have 47 other states in which to do it.

are you kidding me? so you think people should have to uproot their lives and go to another state in order to give a child who needs love, attention, and security a chance.

So basically youre saying screw the children in the foster care systems of Florida, Mississippi, and Utah - becuase we're going to cut their chances of being adopted. shouldn't children in all 50 states have an equal opportunity to be loved? It is a proven fact that gay/lesbian couples as opposed to heterosexual couples - want a child - their age, race, religion - matter less; they just want someone to nurture, love, care for - most (not all) heterosexual couples want a baby, one they can raise from infant status as their own.

personally i find the florida law ridiculous and i hope it gets over-ruled by the supreme court. the deciding factor should be what is best for the child - not the stance you take on gays/lesbians.

aggieAXO · #7 03-31-2002, 02:23 AM

Ditto, Iowa, that is ridiculous to say you have to go to another state to adopt a child-WTF? Who cares if the couple that wants to adopt is of the same sex-as long as they are going to provide a loving home for these unwanted children. Why do we have to discriminate against them? I know plenty of people who came from "straight" family homes with many problems. Just b/c your parents are the traditional man and woman does not mean crap on how you are going to turn out.

I am just curious. If you want to decrease the number of children in foster care in Florida, does Florida allow the schools to talk about contraceptives or are they only allowed to teach abstinence? Just wondering as I know good old G.W. brother's the governor over there.

Quote:

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye

are you kidding me? so you think people should have to uproot their lives and go to another state in order to give a child who needs love, attention, and security a chance.

So basically youre saying screw the children in the foster care systems of Florida, Mississippi, and Utah - becuase we're going to cut their chances of being adopted. shouldn't children in all 50 states have an equal opportunity to be loved? It is a proven fact that gay/lesbian couples as opposed to heterosexual couples - want a child - their age, race, religion - matter less; they just want someone to nurture, love, care for - most (not all) heterosexual couples want a baby, one they can raise from infant status as their own.

personally i find the florida law ridiculous and i hope it gets over-ruled by the supreme court. the deciding factor should be what is best for the child - not the stance you take on gays/lesbians.

Chrysanthemum · #8 03-31-2002, 12:31 PM

Any Chicago Tribune readers here?

If not, I highly recommend that you go to their website and check out Bob Greene's column, past and present articles. Heterosexual, homosexual, who give's a rat's patootie?? When children are in such strong need of ANY loving home, it just makes this whole debate seem so small.

Those children who need loving parents the most aren't going to care who raises them as long as they are safe, loved, and cared for. That article says children are at risk for abuse by homosexual parents...all of these parents who have done such horrible things to their children were all heterosexual. That's like saying "People who drive a certain make and model of car are more likely to get in accidents," like driving a BMW would make you less likely to get rear-ended.

GRRRR.

AKA2D: where on EARTH did those statistics come from?

Jody · #9 03-31-2002, 09:33 PM

Aggie & Iowa, perhaps my position on this particular topic was not clear, I am more concerned about the NUMBER of children in foster care, than who their potential adoptive parents may be.

Judging by your posts, allow me to enlighten you on the eligibility of adoptive parents for WARDS OF THE STATE (any individual can apply to a private agency for adoption) Fifteen years ago, if you were not married and/or over 40, you were ineligible to adopt children from the STATE. Single people and persons over 40 have been cleared for adoption due to the number of children that were not being adopted.

Again, I would be disappointed if the laws in Florida are changed, would that means is that the State has abandoned efforts to 1) abandoned efforts to find preventative measures to reduce the amount of children in foster care 2) abandoned efforts to find preventative measures to reduce the number of children in foster care 3) abandoned efforts to find preventative measures to reduce the number of children in foster care..... In their minds, the problem would be solved because we've expanded the number of people eligible to adopt. Don't kid yourself, gay and lesbian parents abound in the State of Florida, they just can't ADOPT children who are wards of the State.

AKA2D '91 · #10 04-01-2002, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chrysanthemum
GRRRR.

AKA2D: where on EARTH did those statistics come from?

Dang! Ya'll got Soror growling...lmao!

Professor · #11 04-02-2002, 10:55 AM

To be able to give children up for adoption is one of the best options that a parent may have. We all know of girls both young and old that birth babies and don't have the support of the child's father or other family members. While the situations are not ideal, the hopes of placing a child with a family that can adequately care and nurture is really the major consideration for those that elect placing a child up for adoption. All states are required to have home studies to determine appropriateness for placing a child in ones home. Potential parents that are gay do not meet the criteria for adoption in some states while other states take different approaches. My personal opinion is that childrens should be placed with a mother and father. Unfortunately, the number of parents, especially AA, is not in great demand. Professionally, the bottom line is what is ones ability to parent. In this regard it should not matter if couples are the same sex as long as they are able to adequately address the issue of personal choices.

AKAtude · #12 04-02-2002, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Professor
My personal opinion is that childrens should be placed with a mother and father.

This is actually my personal opinion, and I see that I'm in the minority. Since I don't have anything nice to say, I won't say anything else.

Afterall, this is my opinion.

SeriousAKA · #13 04-02-2002, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKAtude

This is actually my personal opinion, and I see that I'm in the minority. Since I don't have anything nice to say, I won't say anything else. Afterall, this is my opinion.

I must agree which is why I'm staying out of this discussion myself!

IowaHawkeye · #14 04-03-2002, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKAtude

This is actually my personal opinion, and I see that I'm in the minority. Since I don't have anything nice to say, I won't say anything else. Afterall, this is my opinion.

and i can absolutely respect your opinion, while not agreeing with it. i would rather have a child in a home, where they are loved, nurtured, secure, and happy rather than being bounced around in foster care or as wards of the state. i don't feel that gay/lesbian parents should have special privileges when adopting - i would just like to have equal criteria for what constitutes a loving, stable home for a child in need - that should be the basis for adoption - no sexual orientation, race, religion...