Running head: ADOPTION IN SAME-SEX COUPLES 1
ADOPTION IN SAME-SEX COUPLES 5
Adoption in Same-Sex Couples
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Adoption in Same-Sex Couples
Introduction
Same-sex couples in the U.S. have faced and are still facing tribulations in their quest for happiness and the creation of a family. Currently, the LGBT community has crossed the first bridge, which is the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. However, issues of adoption bar their quest for family completion. The adoption process in same-sex couples is more stringent as compared to that of heterosexual couples. This a silent controversial issue and has to be dealt with head-on. America is presently facing a crisis in the adoption and the foster care system. Currently, there are more than 400, 000 children are in foster care, in which 114, 556 are unable to be given back to their families (Adoption Network, 2017). While in the foster care system, these children face severe damages in their sub-standard foster homes and usually become victims of the “foster care shuffle” (ACLU, 2018). Furthermore, both the state and the nation incur the foster care administrative cost, which is averagely $6, 675 annually per child.
Reasons why same-sex couples should be granted equal opportunity during an adoption
Approximately, more than half of the same-sex couples in the US would like to adopt. This is a considerable proportion of potential parents that can dwarf the many kids present in foster care. Therefore, gay couples should be permitted to adopt children as easily as heterosexual couples. Pappas (2013) states that same-sex couples do an excellent job of raising children.
First and foremost, same-sex couples choose to have children. For such couples having children requires planning since it entails overcoming biological confines to adopt, obtaining surrogates and sperm donors or the use of in-vitro fertilization techniques. After enduring such difficulties, averagely, these couples are more inclined to be determined and dedicated as compared to heterosexual parents (Pappas, 2013). On the other hand, heterosexual couples tend to have “oops” babies. In the US, approximately half of the pregnancies are unplanned, and they mostly end up in birth instead of abortion (Guttmacher Institute, 2016).
Secondly, same-sex parents tend to nurture the neediest children. (Brodzinsky & Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2011) discovered that sixty-percent of same-sex parents tend to adopt children from all races. This is essential to children in minority groups since they usually find it tough exiting the foster care system. Furthermore, twenty-five percent of the children adopted by gay parents were older than three years, which is an age range that is challenging to adopt.
Thirdly, children nurtured by gay couples are foster tolerant. The nature of their upbringing enables them to develop open-mindedness, confidence, and empathy. According to a study conducted by (Goldberg, 2007), twenty-eight of the interviewed adults who were raised by at least a single gay parent stated that they believed that their nurture enabled them to be more empathetic and open-minded. They felt like they had the freedom to pursue a vast amount of interests. Additionally, the results indicated the absence of a significant difference in the children’s development and social behavior between the two variables. Additionally, the children of lesbian couples were more confident.
Last but not least, the adopted children of same-sex couples exhibit a relatively good academic performance. This is mirrored by results obtained in Bryner (2010) which indicated that the grade point averages (GPA) of such children are at par with children from heterosexual homes. Boys living with lesbian parents scored an average GPA of 2.9 as compared to those of heterosexual parents who scored an average of 2.65. On the other hand, girls nurture by lesbian parents scored an average GPA of 2.8 as compared to girls raised by heterosexual couples that had an average GPA of 2.9.
The points mentioned above evidence that the children nurtured by gay couples develop as successfully as the children nurtured by heterosexual couple parents. Therefore, same-sex should be allowed to adopt children as easily as heterosexual couples.
References
ACLU. (2018). Overview of lesbian and gay parenting, adoption, and foster care. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/overview-lesbian-and-gay-parenting-adoption-and-foster-care
Adoption Network. (2017). Adoption statistics. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/adoptionnetwork.com/adotpion-statistics/amp
Brodzinsky, D. & Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. (2011). Expanding resources for children III: research-based best practices in adoption by gays and lesbians. New York, NY: Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.
Bryner, J. (2010). Children raised by lesbians do just fine, studies show. Retrieved from https://amp.livescience.com/6073-children-raised-lesbians-fine-studies-show.html
Goldberg, A. E. (2007). (How) does it make a difference? Perspectives of adults with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77(4), 550-5622.
Guttmacher Institute. (2016). Unintended pregnancy in the united states. Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/unintended-pregnancy-united-states
Pappas, S. (2013). 5 scientific reasons gay parents are awesome. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.livescience.com/28079-why-gay-parents-are-awesome.html
