Same-Sex Adoption.0
Same-sex adoption calls for the adoption of children by the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people. The issue has revolved through numerous discussions with the formulation of legal laws so that the bother can be counteracted. Some states, such as the United Kingdom, allowed same-sex adoption since 2002. This issue is a catalyst for various disputes between the ruling government and the churches which view same-sex marriage as the first stanza to immorality. Although the problem is a bother to many people, the question at hand is whether a same-sex couple should adopt or not and under which circumstances. My goal in this paper is to briefly discuss with evidence if same-sex couples can adopt, the resources that might be required, and if it is harder for gay couples to adopt.
Can Same-Sex Couples Adopt?
Bollinger in his article on trump administration asking the supreme court to legally ban same-sex couples from adoption shows how same-sex couple cannot adopt. Based from the recent information, religion is on the run to cut-off most of its interactions with gay couples altogether with the view that same-sex couples are not good parents. For example, the CSS sued communicating that the freedom of religion was violated since it holds the belief that same-sex couples are worst parents(Bollinger). This information is given a voice in Acosta’s article where he documents the list on Trump’s steps towards the LGBTQ community. He quotes one of the rule where a child who is born from outside the state through surrogate will not be granted U.S. citizenship. This is big act of denying a same-sex couples from adopting a child through any available circumstance.
In Bollinger’s article, he lays down how trump is using some strategies to discriminate against a same-sex couple adopting. Trump is trying to coerce both local and state governments into working with adoption agencies that are discriminative against the gay people which is propelled towards prohibiting homosexual couple to adopt. The same scenario is seen in Acosta’s article where trump is postulating more breath-cutting limitations to same-sex couple. For example, in school, he is allowing discriminations against LGBTQ students(Acosta). All these moves are geared towards making it hard form gay people to survive since he is preparing the society to stop being gentle to same-sex people. The aftermaths of this is to ban on these couple adopting children since from the initial image, they are negative people.
How Can Same-Sex Couples Adopt?
Whitehead & Perry’s article on the effects of religion on same-sex adoption brings forward the issue of Christianity, particularly religion when formulating regulations to favor homosexual couples’ adoption. The view that religious factors should not be overlooked forms the guideline for opposition against same-sex adoption and propels towards the considerations of religious traditions when it comes to adoptions. This is contrary to Takács, Szalma, & Bartus’s view, which looks at the social attitudes and the precipitating factor towards the adoption. Takács et al. assert that social attitudes, together with the legislation, forms the backbone for a homosexual couple to thrive. This is held on the fact that social attitudes from the majority vote and precedes everything else since people should live together, and harmonious interactions form the basis for a healthy life in same-sex couples.
Takács et al. conceptualize that a same-sex couple can adopt when social attitudes surrounding the issue of homosexuality merge with the country’s legislation that permits homosexual adoptions. For instance, practices of family and parenting evolve when considering same-sex adoption differing with the exercises in heterosexual families. On the other side, Whitehead & Perry flow with the issue of beliefs whereby individuals who disregard the moral teachings in the Bible finds it reasonable for same-sex adoption contrary to the believers of the instructions in the Bible. For example, Americans who frequently engage in sacred text reading sees it as an abomination when considering same-sex adoption compared to those who believe the bible is a historical reading and contains human eras thus support homosexual couples’ adoption (Takács et., al, 1788)
What Are the Resources Necessary for Same-Sex Adoption, and Are There any Merits?
Boertien & Bernardi’s article on children’s progress in school, and same-sex parents fills the gap by formulating how children from homosexual parents have a healthy life in school, which contrasts previous information about how these types of children perform poorly in school. Socioeconomic characteristics that are favorable for adoption brings forward the primary resource for same-sex adoption since they determine the aftermaths. For example, areas with laws that are not favorable and negative attitudes towards homosexual couples lead to children’s poor performance in school. This information is well seconded in Frame’s article on outlook on same-sex marriage and adoption in the United States. Individuals who are not religious call for a complete immersion in same-sex adoption, for they hold a positive attitude that favors the marriage.
Frame’s articulates that individuals who Non-theist supports a homosexual marriage while those following Christian doctrines oppose the motion-for example, people who do not have a baseline to make decisions from such as Christianity, will support various approaches without much consideration on the negative side. On the other hand, Boertien et al. assert that when people change their views towards homosexual couples and child adoptions, there is significant merit that is realized upon positive outcomes in schools where they get educated. For example, there is no documented effect on education that a child from same-sex parents experienced.
Is Adoption Harder for Homosexual Couples?
Racheal Stewart Johnson’s article on a same-sex couple struggling to adopt a child, clearly highlight how hard adoption is for a homosexual couple. The article documents about a homosexual couple, Michael George and Chad Lord, who have the desire to adopt a child. Although the couple feels they can raise a child on their own with the help of George’s mother, they face a lot of hardship. The laws do not favor the proceedings as well as the ability of a same-sex couple to adopt a child with the view that every child deserves a family, and a same-sex couple does not make one. For example, the Catholic Church is an opponent towards same-sex marriage and adoption. Lester Feder’s article seconds this, generally documents about how various states do not uphold same-sex couple adoption. For example, in Russia, there is documentation of harassment and torture for homosexual couples.
According to Racheal Stewart Johnson, adoption is harder because agencies will not trust a same-sex couple in bringing-up a child. The act is evidence by the various attempts by the couple to adopt a child that is not successful. For example, when George and Lord signed with an adoption agency, they did not receive further information from various officers who came for a home study. On the other hand, Lester Feder documents the same case with different countries formulating laws against same-sex marriage. For example, in Kenya, the government formed guidelines against homosexual marriage with a 14 years’ jail term to those who go against the law (Feders, 12)
In conclusion, same-sex marriage and adoption is an issue that is opposed by many. Based on comparing and contrasting the information provided in various articles, same-sex marriage is not an abomination. Social attitude towards homosexual couples is changing with time, and people realize that it is not a deadly sin for individuals who attracted to same-sex people. Christians are in the front seat to condemn same-sex marriage, and their beliefs will continue to influence the decisions patterning the case of homosexuality. Various social movements are protesting for rights, and reforms are underway. On the issue of adoption, a same-sex couple will always find it hard, if not impossible, to adopt a child. The precipitating factors against this are because they cannot make-up a family, and above all, the government does not guarantee the act by forming rules and laws.
References.
Acosta, Lucas. “The Real List of Trump’s ‘Unprecedented Steps’ for the LGBTQ Community.” Human Rights Campaign, HRC Newsletter, 11 June 2020, https://www.hrc.org/blog/the-list-of-trumps-unprecedented-steps-for-the-lgbtq-community
Boertien, D., & Bernardi, F. (2019). Same-Sex Parents and Children’s School Progress: An Association That Disappeared Over Time. Demography, 56(2), 477-501.
Bollinger, Alex. “Trump administration asks Supreme Court to make it legal to ban same-sex couples from adopting.” LGBTQ Nation, LGBTQ Nation, 4 June 2020, https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/06/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-make-legal-ban-sex-couples-adopting/
Frame, N. (2019). Intragroup Differences of the Non-Religious: Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage and Same-Sex Adoption in the United States. Journal of Homosexuality, 1-16.
- Lester Feder. (2019) The New York Times: Struggle Among Progress as Countries Restrict L.G.B.T.Q. Rights. Section F, Pg 12 of the New York edition with the headline: A World of Change.
Rachel Stewart Johnson. (2013) Johns Hopkins Politics & society: A same-sex couple’s struggle to adopt. Johns Hopkins Magazine.
Takács, J., Szalma, I., & Bartus, T. (2016). Social attitudes toward adoption by same-sex couples in Europe. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(7), 1787-1798.
Whitehead, A. L., & Perry, S. L. (2016). Religion and support for adoption by same-sex couples: The relative effects of religious tradition, practices, and beliefs. Journal of Family Issues, 37(6), 789-813.