Homosexual Parents

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the current situation in which homosexual couples wishing to adopt a child are discriminated against. The writer argues against this practice, stating that one's sexual morality should not take away from one's ability to be a good parent; and that this should be the major criteria for deciding who is fit to adopt.

From the Paper:

"A home. Two loving parents or at least one loving parent. Two or even one heart filled with unconditional love for a child. Surely this is something that every child should expect to come home to? Of course, not every child born in America today enjoys this luxury. But it is an ideal that every adoption and social service agency should aspire to create. Thus, homosexual parents and homosexual individuals should be allowed to adopt children. Currently, some states, such as Florida, bar gay adoption. Recently, a family overseen by two gay men was broken up by Florida's department of social services, because the law would not allow the couple to formally adopt the. ("Riveted to Rosie" Gay Parent Magazine, March Online Edition) Other states, such as California, do not prohibit gay adoption outright. However, although "a gay or lesbian couple is not legally barred from adopting a child" simply because of sexual orientation and "it is still more difficult, as a practical matter, for gay and lesbian couples to adopt than for married couples." (Guerlin & Glima, Chapter 1) Both legal and informal discrimination must cease. An individual's sexuality is not of paramount importance in his or her ability to provide a stable home life. Furthermore, an individual's fitness as a parent should be the primary criteria considered in the adoption process, not his or her morality outside of parental fitness. Lastly, good homes are too scarce for some children in today's adoption market, particularly for older, ailing, or less physically desirable children, to eliminate potential parents because of their sexuality."

More papers on Homosexual Parents:

• Term Paper # 61912 : "Effects of Homosexual Parents on Children"
• Argumentative Essay # 110605 : "Homosexual Inclusion into the Spectrum of Adoption"
• Term Paper # 88534 : "Support Groups for Parents of Differently-Sexualized Children"

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