Adoption Rights for Gay Couples Essay Example

Adoption Rights for Gay Couples Essay Example Adoption Rights for Gay Couples Essay Adoption Rights for Gay Couples Essay Adoption Rights for Gay Couples Gay couples live lives just like any other couples, except with more limitations and challenges. Unlike straight couples, gay couples cannot marry, visit their ill partner in the hospital, or adopt children. This is outright wrong and unfair. Same sex couples have the potential to be just as adequate parents as straight couples, if not better. Ultimately same sex couples deserve the opportunity to adopt children. To start with, gay couples make great parents just like straight couples, and in some cases, even better parents. Still, regardless of a couple’s parenting abilities, they are less likely to be able to adopt children. Same sex couples are capable of giving love, making a living, providing a home, and all of the other aspects that a parent must obtain. It is downright wrong that same sex couples often get denied the privilege of adopting a child in need. â€Å"A growing body of scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1 or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual† (Perrin). There are so many children in the world needing a home and a loving family. It is horrible to think that same sex couples are believed to be incapable of providing just that. Generally, when a child has same sex parents, that child has the potential to be introduced to a much more diverse upbringing than most children. Gay couples face ridicule every day, knowing that they do not have the rights and privileges of straight couples, such as marriage and legal rights. They are a minority, making them more sensitive to diversity. Most same sex couples end up adopting children from foreign countries. Therefore, the children are often of a different race or religion. America is known as a â€Å"melting pot†, so then diverse families should be included. Gay couples have to face diversity challenges every day. So if their child witnesses what their parents go through, they are more likely to want to change that in their future. As a result, America would be a much more tolerant country, with less racism and other discrimination. With that in mind, it is obvious that same sex couples are discriminated against in adoptions. They are often turned down simply because they are homosexual. This is morally wrong and unfair. America has improved on discrimination immensely in the past, but we still need to come farther. People are being turned down because of their sexual orientation, which they were born with, and thus cannot change. African Americans were born with dark skin; yet, we allow them to adopt children. Gay couples are born homosexual, yet they are punished in so many different ways. We need to stop this hurt, and give them the same opportunities as everyone. Nevertheless, there are some people who propose reasons why same sex couples are denied the opportunity of adopting children. Those individuals would say that families are headed by a mother and a father, and same sex couples would not be able to offer that aspect of parenting. Also, they cannot be married, so the children would have unmarried parents, another common trait of a family. Although it is a valid statement, that does not mean that gay couples should be denied the ability to adopt. Regardless of the sex of the parents, the important thing to remember is that a child will have a home, with two loving parents. There is no legitimate reason why they should be overlooked and turned down for adoptions. In the long run, same sex couples are used to being treated unfair, and deal with diversity every day of their lives. If a gay man or woman is in a relationship with either the biological parent, or an adoptive parent, they have a better chance of being able to adopt their partner’s child; a same-sex couple has a very small chance of being able to adopt on their own (Cusick and Kranz 79). There is no logical reason why they should be denied the opportunity of adopting a child and having a family. Yes, a stereotypical family has a mother and a father; but stereotypes are broken often, as our society constantly changes from what our ancestors were raised in. â€Å"All of the research to date has reached the same unequivocal conclusion about gay parenting: the children of lesbian and gay parents grow up as successfully as the children of heterosexual parents. In fact, not a single study has found the children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged because of their parents sexual orientation† (Gay Adoption). There is absolutely no excuse to discriminate against these couples. Same sex couples deserve the right to adopt children just like any other couple. Gay Adoption. Political debates. You Debate. 8 Dec. 2008 lt; youdebate. com/debates/gay_adoption. htmgt;. Kranz, Rachel, and Tim Cusick. Gay Rights. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York City, NY: Facts On File, Inc. , 2005. 1-362. Perrin, Ellen C. Technical Report: Coparent or second parent adoption by same-sex parents. Pediatrics. Feb. 2002. American Academy of Pediatrics. 8 Dec. 2008 lt;http://pediatrics. aappublications. org/cgi/content/abstract/109/2/341gt;.