Introduction
Families nowadays are more diverse than ever, especially in the adoption sector, where transracial, multicultural, same-sex, and single-parent families are common. According to statistics on same-sex adoption, an increasing number of gay couples are adopting. In fact, same-sex couples are four times more likely than heterosexual couples to raise an adopted child and six times more likely to raise foster children. Today, gay and lesbian parents raise 4% of adopted children and 3% of foster children, with an additional 2 million LGBTQ people interested in adopting.
Gay couple’s Parenting
It’s important to stress that children of same-sex couples — both adopted and biological children — have the same behavior as children of straight couples in terms of mental health, social functioning, school performance, and a range of other life-success indicators. This is because children’s optimal development is based on stable attachments to dedicated and nurturing adults, not on their parents’ sexual orientation.
Children raised by homosexual or lesbian parents have the same degree of emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as children reared by heterosexual parents. Additionally, they are as physically and psychologically healthy, capable, and successful as children raised by opposite-sex couples. This is because homosexual couples are more motivated and dedicated to raise their children to healthy human beings as they chose to adopt it was an accident as some of the straight couples.
Advantages of adoption for LGBT parents
Generally, it is always a parent’s greatest joy to see their children mature into healthy individuals. It makes no difference to gay couples, for example, when it comes to making wonderful memories with their loved ones. As a result, it is only fair to grant them the same adoption rights as heterosexual couples in order for them to reap the benefits of becoming parents. They will be able to meet the child’s birth family and form special ties with them as a result of this. Furthermore, the chance to raise a child who is in need of a caring home. As a result, the child will have the opportunity to live with a loving family outside of an orphanage..
Arguments supporting Gay adoption
Although civilized cultures do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or sexuality, denying homosexual couples equal rights is clearly discriminatory. Gay and heterosexual couples are entitled to the same legal rights when it comes to adoption. Anything less is just homophobia-based discrimination. Gay couples did not snatch children from happy hetero homes. The majority came from orphanages, foster homes, or single mothers who are unable to care for their children. Given the scarcity of qualified straight couples, gay adoption may be a viable alternative for providing children with the loving homes they require. That’s excellent for children, good for parents who want to start a family, and good for society.
Children raised in LGBT homes are more open-minded. This permits the youngster to be more open-minded towards themselves in the event that they have questions and require a safe location to ask them. A child will not notice anything unusual about their family until they reach school age, which is a positive thing because it allows other children to see that there is nothing wrong with such a household. Additionally, there is plenty of proof that gay couples can parent just as well as straight couples. Indeed, others feel that, on average, homosexual couples are more motivated and dedicated than heterosexual parents because they always choose to have children, as opposed to the roughly 50% of straight couples who become parents by chance
It is worth noting that, homosexual couples are more likely than straight couples to parent foster children. This is due to their greater tolerance and acceptance of others. As a result, it’s not surprising that these couples are more likely to adopt children of a different race than themselves, because they’re already used to being part of a multicultural family and preaching tolerance and acceptance regardless of differences.
Social norms today with gay adoption
Children from the LGBT community may suffer from negative sentiments toward their parents as a result of the harassment they may face in society. Negative views toward their parents and themselves can be fostered through social interactions at school, extracurricular activities, and religious organizations. Additionally, physical injury and harassment, as well as other forms of harm and violence, can be experienced by LGBT young people. However, by maintaining various social and legal protection ,it supports children and parents who encounter transphobia and homophobia in the community, school, and family. Practicing and forming supportive networks inside schools, as well as working on resilience skills, can help kids and parents feel comfortable.
Racism
Homosexual couples have experienced a lot of discrimination throughout their lives and are working to reverse that by being more tolerant and accepting to people of all colors. As a result, adopted children are more likely to grow up in a home that accepts and celebrates differences. They are less constrained by traditional gender stereotypes and convey their sentiments more openly. They also exhibit more empathy for individuals who are different. As a result, given all of the advantages of gay couple adoption, it is only fair that they be treated equally to straight couples in terms of adoption rights.
Conclusion
It is self-evident that homosexual and heterosexual couples are equally qualified for parental rights. They nurture the adopted youngster into a healthy adult by their commitment and motivation. The adoption by homosexual couples promotes diversity in society by allowing people of various races to live together without discrimination. As foster children find a home and homosexual couples gain the opportunity to become parents, it is only fair that they be granted the same adoption rights as straight couples.
References
Santos, J. V. D. O., Araújo, L. F. D., Negreiros, F., & Cerqueira-Santos, E. (2018). Adoption of children by homosexual couples: The social representations. Trends in Psychology, 26, 139-152.
Alday-Mondaca, C., & Lay-Lisboa, S. (2021). The Impact of Internalized Stigma on LGBT Parenting and the Importance of Health Care Structures: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5373.
Farr, Rachel H. “Does parental sexual orientation matter? A longitudinal follow-up of adoptive families with school-age children.” Developmental psychology 53.2 (2017): 252. Web.
Miller, Benjamin Graham, Stephanie Kors, and Jenny Macfie. “No differences? Meta-analyticcomparisons of psychological adjustment in children of gay fathers and heterosexual parents.” Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity 4.1 (2017): 14. Web.
Tasker, Fiona, and Clifford Bellamy. “Adoption by same-sex couples–reaffirming evidence: could more children be placed?.” Family Law (2019). Web.