the impact on children in same-sex families
Homosexual Parents Should Have The Right To Adopt Children Without Discrimination
Abstract
This paper focuses on the right of homosexual parents to adopt children without discrimination. The paper will explain the background and historical development of homosexual parents, as well as people’s prejudice and discrimination against homosexual parents. Three reasons will be discussed in specific to support homosexual parents gaining the equal right to adopt children without discrimination.
Keywords: Parenting; homosexual parents; gay and lesbians; impact on children.
Introduction
By definition, the adoption of children indicates the commitment to provide parenting to children who are not one’s own biological offspring. In recent years, the definition has developed different terms to describe the various existing adopting processes, one of which is open adoption, a form of adoption in which the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other 's personal information and have an option of contact (Wikipedia, 2013). However, the basic and general concept still remains the same. Generally, in an adoption, one commits to provide for the needs of a child as if that child were, in fact, one’s offspring (Reed, 2013). In fact, the traditional typical family structure has undergone huge changes. Not only are heterosexual parents the only ones that show the willingness to adopt children, but also more and more homosexual couples are starting to acquire the same rights to adopt children, since one’s motivation and desire to become a parent may occur regardless of his or her sexual orientation. The adoption of homosexual parents has always been discussed in the society, yet no clear support is given to homosexual parents by the society in general. In fact, research has shown that up to 10% of gay men and approximately 20% of gay women are already parents (Goldberg, 2009).
Looking at the facts and the history of adoption, the treatment of
Abstract
This paper focuses on the right of homosexual parents to adopt children without discrimination. The paper will explain the background and historical development of homosexual parents, as well as people’s prejudice and discrimination against homosexual parents. Three reasons will be discussed in specific to support homosexual parents gaining the equal right to adopt children without discrimination.
Keywords: Parenting; homosexual parents; gay and lesbians; impact on children.
Introduction
By definition, the adoption of children indicates the commitment to provide parenting to children who are not one’s own biological offspring. In recent years, the definition has developed different terms to describe the various existing adopting processes, one of which is open adoption, a form of adoption in which the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other 's personal information and have an option of contact (Wikipedia, 2013). However, the basic and general concept still remains the same. Generally, in an adoption, one commits to provide for the needs of a child as if that child were, in fact, one’s offspring (Reed, 2013). In fact, the traditional typical family structure has undergone huge changes. Not only are heterosexual parents the only ones that show the willingness to adopt children, but also more and more homosexual couples are starting to acquire the same rights to adopt children, since one’s motivation and desire to become a parent may occur regardless of his or her sexual orientation. The adoption of homosexual parents has always been discussed in the society, yet no clear support is given to homosexual parents by the society in general. In fact, research has shown that up to 10% of gay men and approximately 20% of gay women are already parents (Goldberg, 2009).
Looking at the facts and the history of adoption, the treatment of
References: Goldberg, A. E (2009). Lesbian and heterosexual pre-adoptive couples’ openness to transracial adoption. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 79, No. 1, p103–117. Goldberg, A. E (2010). Gay and lesbian parents and their children: Research on the family life cycle. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, Vol. 23, p233. Golombok, S & Tasker, F (1996). Do parents influence the sexual orientation of their children? Findings from a longitudinal study of lesbian families. Dev Psychol, Vol. 32, p3 –11. Hock, R. M. & Mooradian, J. K (2012). Co-parenting quality among adoptive mothers: contributions of socioeconomic status, child demands and adult relationship characteristics. Child & Family Social Work, Vol. 17, p85-95. Kirkpatrick, M & Smith, C & Roy, R (1981). Lesbian mothers and their children: a comparative survey. Am J Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 51, p545 – 551. Marks, L (2012). Same-sex parenting and children’s outcomes: A closer examination of the American psychological association’s brief on lesbian and gay parenting. Social Science Research, p57-62. Reed, R (2013). Are the Kids Alright? Rawls, Adoption, and Gay Parents. Ethic Theory Moral Prac, Vol. 16, p969-982. Rawls, J (1999). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press, Vol.72. Stark, P (2009). Stark introduces bill opening more homes to foster children. Retrieved from http://www.stark.house.gov Wikipedia contributors (2013). Open adoption. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Open_adoption&oldid=582467017