Abstract
This paper explains that the number of children adopted by gay men and lesbian parents has increased as more state laws have relaxed the prohibition on these types of adoptions and as more social workers and agencies now are willing to accommodate and intervene for them. The author points out that this changing trend has lead to critical concerns about sexual orientation, the probability of molestation, teasing and harassment of the child, which have created a dilemma for the social workers between the need for adoptive families and the principles of his or her profession. The paper relates that research suggests that the adopted children of gay and lesbian parents develop normal or straight relationships with their peers and satisfying relationships with adults of both sexes; therefore, social workers should support this type of adoption as guided by their professional code of ethics.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
History of Adoption
Reasons for Accepting Adoption by Gay or Lesbian Parents
Issues and Concerns
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The revolutions of the 1960s and 1970s further influenced and modified adoption practices. These revolutions were the women's liberation, civil rights movement, sexual revolution, the adoptee's liberty movement, and the birth fathers' rights, birth control, legalized abortion and a dominant single parenthood culture. One consequence was that social workers were encouraged to adjust their role as educators for adoptive parents in helping them recognize and cope with raising adopted children as against raising natural children. Adoptive parents now demand more information on the child they take and whose future is entrusted to them."

Tags:same-sex, second, parent, code, reseach, laws

Abstract
In this article, the writer maintains that not all individuals are allowed to fully exercise their freedom in the United States of America. Through the decades, increased freedom and equality have been established for women, African Americans, immigrants, children, and more recently homosexuals. The writer discusses that although the United States has grown tremendously from its original suppressive ways, complete equality has still not been achieved. An issue that is not often in the spotlight is gay and lesbian adoption of children. A clear lack of freedom is present for these individuals. The writer argues that finding and implementing a solution to satisfy this freedom will bring the United States of America a large step closer to full equality.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Context and Importance of the Problem
Policy Recommendations
Policy Implementation
References

From the Paper
"Fact is that the states forbidding the adoption of children to homosexual couples and individuals have no reason for the prohibition. Implementing a policy where all states would be required to allow gay and lesbian adoptions would be ideal, though not realistically feasible. Justification for the exclusion of gay and lesbian adoption should be mandatory for each state that decides to do so. With this idea, each state will continue to have its own freedom without being restricted to obey an overarching Federal law. If these states are set on their law of banning same-sex adoption of children, then just reasoning should be present. If no explanation is available, the validity of the law itself should absolutely be questioned. Preventing states from prohibiting same-sex adoptions is at the moment an unrealistic goal, especially considering the sizeable conflict and debate over the thought of homosexuality itself. I believe the states that completely rule out homosexual adoption and other who considers sexual orientation in the adoption process will have extreme difficulty in finding justification for their decision. The most common grounds for argument against homosexuality are based off of religious beliefs. With this is mind, it will be especially difficult to maintain a separation of church and state."

Tags:homosexuals, equality, children, gay

Abstract
In this article, the writer focuses on the effect the gay and lesbian population has had on hotel management and marketing. By reviewing and analyzing various articles and reports on this topic, the writer demonstrates why the gay and lesbian population is a heavily marketed group within the travel industry. Likewise, the writer reviews why a hotel manager should market to the gay and lesbian traveling population. Finally, the paper also touches briefly on how effective marketing to this population can occur.

Outline:
Introduction
What Gay and Lesbian Travelers Want in a Hotel
Why Market to Gay and Lesbian Travelers?
How to Market to the Gay and Lesbian Population
What Others are Doing

From the Paper
"One of the most significant developments in the travel industry, particularly as it applies to hotel management and marketing, is the recent trend aimed at attracting gay and lesbian clients. This trend developed as marketing research showed that gay and lesbian people are more likely to travel, and have more disposable income to spend when traveling, than the general population does. Thus, this group of individuals, who for decades was regarded as a niche travel population that only gay or lesbian-only travel marketing niche catered to, is now a mainstream market within the travel industry as a whole."

Tags:hotel, travelers, homosexual, marketing, niche

Abstract
The paper discusses the arguments against allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt, that are based primarily on religious reasons and on the contention that growing up under two same sex parents will be damaging to the natural psychological and biological development of the child. The paper then presents research that children can lead normal and healthy lives without the every day influence of both genders working together and they can thrive without a heterosexual environment. The paper also notes the benefits of adoption for the couple to achieve a relatively normal family life. The paper strongly contends that gay and lesbian couples can offer millions of orphaned children the luxury of a happy home and truly caring parents.

From the Paper
"The process and statutes involved in same sex adoption policies vary greatly from state to state as well as within the minds and opinions of Americans across the country. Before a major taboo, the practice has become more common with less state restrictions across the United States. In cases where the states allow legal marriage between same sex partners, adoption laws are easier for same sex couples. Being legally married provides benefits within the adoption process that help the couple beyond the simple civil unions seen in other states where same sex marriage is not yet a legal practice; "The legal definition of marriage does not exist in isolation; changing it alters many areas of the law. For example, the definition of marriage plays an important role in the law of adoption, education, employee benefits, employment discrimination, government contracts and subsidies, taxation, tort law, and trusts and estates," (Severino 2007:941). Thus, states such as Vermont, where gay marriage is a legal practice, allow for an easier process during a gay or lesbian couple's path towards adoption. However, this does not prohibit all gay and lesbian couples living in states with legal restrictions on same sex marriage from adopting as well, the process is just made more complicated."

Tags:gender, same-sex, marriage, religion

Abstract
Gay and lesbian marriage has become a controversial debate in contemporary society. There are heated arguments for and against the legalization of marriage between couples of the same sex. This paper explains that the underlying assumption for those in favor of gay marriages is that the central aspects of love, relationship, and understanding should override all other issues. However, this paper argues that the situation is not quite that simple. There are numerous factors that militate against the acceptance of gay marriage as an institution in modern society. The paper points out that gay marriages have the potential to create serious problems with regard to a range of very important social and cultural issues that make marriages of this nature untenable in modern society.

From the Paper
"The argument that I wish to propose is not based on any of these perceptions or views. The central argument against the institution of gay and lesbian marriage has nothing to do with assumptions and judgments about homosexuality, and neither do I wish to deprive people of their intrinsic and inalienable democratic rights. Rather the objection to same-sex marriage is simply based on the fact that it contributes to the downfall of society; more particularly the institution of the family - the foundation of society - and subsequently will impact negatively on the development of children within the society. Therefore, the argument against gay marriage that I propose is based purely on practical and societal considerations."

Tags:society, relationship, love, marriage, homosexual

Abstract
This paper explores the current position of the gay and lesbian population in American society. The writer attempts to explore the culture and understand how spaces and territories are established. The writer also discusses the differences in social lives of gays and lesbians.

From the Paper
"America's gay and lesbian populations have come a long way in recent decades. They are far less apt to remain in the closet than in days gone by and they are much more open about their lifestyle than they had been in the past. The gay and lesbian community worked hard to carve out niches in urban society including hang outs, social functions and other rights of passage that are an automatic given for the straights of the nation.

"The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a growing sensitization on the part of mainstream society to the issues of gay and lesbian liberation(Voigt, 1999). Though the questions of gays in the military and gay marriage remain controversial, a number of gay issues been resolved, even on the civic level."

Tags:liberation, closet, homosexual, marriage, AIDS

Abstract
This paper looks at the growing acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships in society, as well as homosexual marriages. The author focuses specifically on Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church, led by the Reverend Brent Hawkes, which offers the gay community vast support for the lifestyle, and performs controversial marriage ceremonies.

Tags:brent, church, community, hawkes, metropolitan, reverend, toronto

Abstract
This paper examines various opinions regarding the topic of gay and lesbian parenting. It illustrates clearly that gays and lesbian parents are mentally and emotionally stable enough to provide their children with love, support and attention that they require for success in all areas of life. The commons myths are addressed in this paper and are dispelled as being groundless in fact. This paper also discusses several court rulings concerning this issue.

From the Paper
"The Courts in the United States have tried repeatedly to provide children with a family setting which is recognized by American Family Law. Even the societal changes, which are currently taking place in family structures, the society itself and the legal system of our country have failed to see beyond the myths and misconceptions associated with alternative family structure. Millions of gays and lesbians are now trying to become parents through adoption, insemination and surrogate procedures. No matter which method is finally chosen, it has been repeatedly proven by researchers and pediatric professionals that gay couples are absolutely capable of providing love, support and moral values required for healthy mental and emotional development of children. "

Tags:prejudice, society, family, stability, sexual, emotional, gender

Abstract
This paper consists of three separate website reviews for different psychology internet sites that feature research done with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, communities, and identities. Each website was described in detail with attention paid to the strengths of each. All feature a specific article or set of journals that consider LGBT psychological issues.

From the Paper
"The Australian Psychological Society, Ltd. hosts several member group websites. One of these is the website for the Gay and Lesbian Issues in Psychology Review (GLIP Review), an Australian-based journal of psychology about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning individuals and communities (GLBTIQ). This website features information about the GLIP interest group, the history of its journal publications, and its goals. According to the website, GLIP Review aims to encourage research that challenges the stereotypes and assumptions of pathology that have often inhered to research on lesbians..."

Tags:gay, lesbian, psychology

Abstract
This paper discusses how being elderly and gay in Toronto is not a positive experience. The paper explains that the experience is much the same for elderly gays in all cities and that elderly gay men are cut off from younger gay men and also from society. The paper points out that gays and lesbians in Canada have their own gay village right in the downtown area of Toronto and that this area is also known as the gay ghetto. The paper then looks at how the experience of elderly gay people is even worse than the discrimination that results from homophobia and it all has to do with ageism, which puts elderly gay men into yet another ghetto. In conclusion, the paper shows that elderly gay men are also faced with the issues of homophobia and ageism and the process of growing old in Toronto does not seem to have any advantages.

Outline:
The Gay Ghetto
Older Gays, Ageism, and Social Isolation
Other Problems of Elderly Gay Men
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Gays are mainly found in two areas of Toronto. The first is the Gay Village; the center of that village is Church and Wellesley Streets. The Gay Village is a symbol of exclusion or how gays and lesbians are separate from general Toronto society. Homophobia still exists very strongly, and gays and lesbians are still struggling for equality with the rest of society. In the village, gays and lesbians found "an urban neighborhood that is populated by, and reasonably tolerates, a large number of queers" (Editorial 1). They accomplished something remarkable with the rundown urban neighborhood when they rented apartments that other people rejected and opened businesses where no one else would consider doing so."

Tags:ageism, HIV, lesbian, homophobia, discrimination, dementia