FREE ESSAY ON ADOPTION BY GAYS- IT'S OKAY

ADOPTION BY GAYS- IT'S OKAY

"When a gay couple sought to adopt a boy- who had leukemia, had been neglected by his
biological parents, had lived in five foster homes, and whose adoption was favored by his
legal representative- the judge deemed it 'not in the interest of a seven-year-old male
child to be placed for adoption into the home of a pair of adult male homosexual
lovers.'"(Utne 58) Three years of searching for a qualified heterosexual couple failed.
This and many other similar cases have denied children a family by ignoring many
qualified homosexuals. With this being an age when people are supposedly more
open-minded, why is it that gays are treated this way just because of their sexual
orientation?
Many Americans are still uncomfortable with the idea of gay parents. The traditional
family has always included a mother and a father. However, today more and more families
are being headed by gay parents. Some have children from previous marriages. Many must
use artificial insemination or surrogate mothers because it is extremely difficult for
gays to adopt children.
Although it seems to contradict society's view of the traditional family, homosexuals
should be allowed to adopt because they deserve equal rights, and sexual orientation is
not a reasonable determining factor in the qualifications of a parent. Also, allowing
them to adopt can actually help society. 
"Surveys suggest that a large majority of the American public generally favor
anti-discrimination laws."(Harris 2) Why then, according to a Newsweek survey, do only
36% of those surveyed think gay couples should have the right to adopt? Samuel Chavers,
assistant general counsel for Children and Families, says "adoption is not a right; it's
a privilege." If this is true, there is still not a rational basis for denying
homosexuals the "privilege" to adopt. It is clearly an anti-gay bias. Although only two
states specifically ban adoption by gays, most states discourage it. Just as blacks and
women have fought for equal rights, gays are now struggling to do the same. It is unfair
to single out a group of people with many members who would make great parents. Since we
live in a world where "all men are created equal", homosexuals should enjoy the same
rights as heterosexuals.
Gays face discrimination because of their sexual preferences, and they must also face the
qualifications for adopting. "June Amer has a son of her own, whom she and her partner
have raised. They wanted to adopt a second child. Amer truthfully filled out an
application form that asked whether she was a homosexual. Her application was immediately
rejected."(Fitzgerald 1B) This was a woman who had already proved to be a good parent and
who lived in a healthy environment. She could have provided much-needed care for another
child. Her only characteristic that did not meet the qualifications was that she had a
female lover. Because of this reason, many qualified applicants are being turned down. It
is great that people are willing to adopt children, but it is terrible that this one
qualification is stopping so many of them. "Sexual orientation alone doesn't make a
person a good or bad parent."(Kantrowitz 57) "Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, agrees. 'The goal should be to identify
those homes that would provide nurturing environments. The determination should not be
sexual orientation.'"(Wagner 1) Adoption agencies need to quit using sexual orientation
as a factor. A family is a family.
That is exactly what so many children today are in need of: a family. "There are now
36,000 children in this country- in foster homes or institutions- who are free for
adoption.(Utne 54) These children need the love that homosexuals can provide just as well
as heterosexuals. If the many willing gays could adopt these children, it would help our
society by lessening the problem of children without families. A home is much better than
an institution, or worse, the streets. It would also help by diversifying society. All
people are not the same, so why should all families have to be the same? If children are
adopted by gay parents, more people will become accepting and open-minded towards
different lifestyles. Society will definitely be positively affected the day that
homosexuals can freely adopt. 
There are many reasons why people believe gays should not freely adopt. A major argument
is that children need a male and female figure in their lives in order to develop
emotionally. This is true, but most gays have family members and friends who can provide
that role. "Most same-sex parents say they make a special effort to ensure that their
kids learn to relate to adults of the opposite sex."(Kantrowitz 57) Melissa Etheridge and
her partner, Julie Cypher, explain that their kids "will not live in a girl
vacuum."(Kantrowitz 55) Many people worry that being brought up by gay parents will cause
children to be gay. Much study has been done on this issue. "Researchers have not found
any more or less of a tendency in children brought up by gays to be homosexual
themselves."(Harris 4) Also, some believe that it is too traumatic for kids to have gay
parents. What about being traumatized by an abusive alcoholic father? They hardly
compare. For those who say that the children will be uncomfortable having gay parents,
they are the ones who make the kids uncomfortable. "Gays say that what makes their
children uncomfortable is not homosexuality itself but society's intolerant attitude
toward it."(Henry 69) People need to realize that there are not really any verifiable
reasons for keeping gays from adopting.
It is discouraging that there are only a few hundred documented adoptions by open gays.
However, hopefully in the near future many more homosexuals and kids without parents will
be able to have what they deserve: a family. "'I would like the day to come when there's
nothing to talk about, period,' said Jeff Carron, an adoptive father. 'Whether I'm
married to Susan or Steve, big deal. Am I nice? Am I good? Am I a loving parent? That's
the important thing.'"(Harris 2) 
Adoption By Gays: It's Okay
Final Exam
Lindsey DeBerry
Dr. Moss
6th Period
December 15, 1997
Outline
Intro: states thesis; shows my position
I.Equal Rights
A.Newsweek survey
B.adoption is a privilege
C.unfair to single out gays
II.Qualifications
A.June Amer
B.qualified applicants turned down
C.sexual orientation as a factor
III.Helpful for Society
A.36,000 children
B.diversify society
C.make people accepting
IV.Counterarguments and Refutes
A.male and female figures
B.children becoming gay
C.traumatic
D.uncomfortable
Conclusion:wraps up paper; reinforces how I feel
Bibliography
"A Child at Any Cost?". Utne Reader. November/December,1991.
pp.52-60.
"Bill Would Bar Known Gay Foster Parents". Herald-Courier.
Wagner,Rick. February 6,1997.
"Families Come Out". Newsweek. Kantrowitz,Barbara. November 
4,1996. pp.51-7.
"Gay Parents: Under Fire and On The Rise". Time. Henry, William A., III. September
20,1993. pp.66-70.
"Mother Sues For the Right to Adopt Second Child". Sun- Sentinel. Fitzgerald, Henry Jr.
May 6, 1997. p.1B.
"Two Moms or Two Dads- And a Baby". Los Angeles Times. Harris, Scott. October 20,1991.
pp. A1 +. 
Bibliography
"A Child at Any Cost?". Utne Reader. November/December,1991.
pp.52-60.
"Bill Would Bar Known Gay Foster Parents". Herald-Courier.
Wagner,Rick. February 6,1997.
"Families Come Out". Newsweek. Kantrowitz,Barbara. November 
4,1996. pp.51-7.
"Gay Parents: Under Fire and On The Rise". Time. Henry, William A., III. September
20,1993. pp.66-70.
"Mother Sues For the Right to Adopt Second Child". Sun- Sentinel. Fitzgerald, Henry Jr.
May 6, 1997. p.1B.
"Two Moms or Two Dads- And a Baby". Los Angeles Times. Harris, Scott. October 20,1991.
pp. A1 +.