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Gillian Cruz

Christine Walsh

ENGL 109H

27 November 2017

Editorial, The New York Times

Supporting Same-Sex Adoption in the U.S.

Homosexual people in the United States, and in almost every other country, have always

faced discrimination and judgment. This has always resulted in same-sex couples having to

overcome many obstacles in order to receive only a portion of the same rights as heterosexual

couples. One of these obstacles was recently conquered when same-sex marriage was finally

legalized in all fifty states across the U.S. Although this issue has finally been addressed by the

government, one pressing concern is the right of same-sex couples having the right to adopt

children. Laws vary from state to state regarding same-sex adoption, while some states prohibit

discrimination based on sexual orientation, others have laws in place to support an agency’s

religious beliefs (which often includes discrimination against homosexuals) (Harris). Despite

this, same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children in the United States because it would

ultimately provide more homes for children in need of loving families and help pave the way for

a less discriminatory country. To help further this, I urge the administrators of private adoption

agencies to consider removing provisions that do not allow same-sex couples to adopt.

Throughout the last few years, many same-sex couples have wanted to start their own

families, especially due to the fact that the U.S. has recently become more accepting of

L.G.B.T.Q. people. Currently, around six to fourteen million children in the U.S. live with at

least one gay parent (“Overview”). Despite this, starting a family is still a difficult feat for same-
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sex couples. Although there are many ways to start a family (artificial insemination, surrogacy,

and adoption), same-sex couples often face prejudice and discrimination from others that may

further complicate the process. As a result, “the United States is facing a critical shortage of

adoptive and foster parents” (“Overview”). It was only recently that a federal judge stated that

bans on same-sex adoption were unconstitutional and legalized gay adoption in all 50 states

(Reilly). Despite this critical change, there are several private or independent adoption agencies

who still do not allow gay couples to adopt because of the agencies religious or moral beliefs.

This issue is of great interest to me since I am an advocate and ally of L.G.B.T.Q. rights and

would like to adopt children in the future. I can only imagine how much harder it would be to

adopt if I were attempting to adopt with a same-sex partner. Other stakeholders in this issue

(same-sex couples and children who are in need of parents) depend on some sort of change in

stigma and policies of independent adoption agencies in order to have a family without having to

face societal consequences.

Many people who are opposed to same-sex adoption or anything related to it usually

argue that there must be some sort of negative effects on the children of gay parents and that

since they are raised “differently”, there would ultimately be life-altering consequences on the

child, however, this is not the case. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) states that

“there is no evidence to suggest that lesbians and gay men are unfit to be parents” and that they

“are as likely to successfully support a child’s development” as heterosexual parents

(“Overview”). They also include that “good parenting is not influenced by sexual orientation”

and that there is no evidence suggesting that children of gay/lesbian parents suffer from more

problems” (“Overview”). Another supporting source, the American Academy of Pediatrics

conducted a 25-year-long research study that found no correlation between sexual orientation of
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parents with the child’s psychological adjustment (“Same-sex”). The child does not have any

biased emotions or attitudes toward their parent’s sexual orientation and does not feel as though

there is anything wrong with their parents that would affect the relationship between parent and

child. Therefore, those who use this argument as their reasoning to deny same-sex adoption have

no substantial data to support this. It ultimately proves that there is no difference between the

child of heterosexual parents and the child of homosexual parents.

One point that is widely cited by opposers of same-sex adoption is that children need

both male and female figures in their lives, which would be entirely absent if children had

lesbian or gay parents. The Family Research Council states that the father figures would

“exercise a unique social and biological influence on their children” and would serve to reduce

“antisocial behavior and delinquency in boys and sexual activity in girls” (Family), and the

mother figure would “provide children with “emotional security” and “give their daughters

unique counsel as they confront the physical, emotional, and social challenges associated with

puberty and adolescence” (Family). However, this reflects a heteronormative worldview that can

be limited to a religious viewpoint. Since the Family Research Council is an explicitly religious

Christian organization, it is entirely limiting its audience since their devout viewpoint is not

shared by everyone.

The ACLU states that children can find male role models outside of their households,

“these include grandparents, uncles, teachers, friends, and neighbors”. So, yes, it is relatively

well-known that a child should have role models represented by both sexes, but this is certainly

not limited to figures within the household. In support of this, children spend a lot of their time

out in public, whether this is at school, extracurricular activities, etc., most of their time is spent

around other male/female figures who they can look up to and learn from. Role models and
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male/female figures should not be limited only to parents within the household, especially since

most people did not learn every social bit of knowledge exclusively from their parents, if this

were the case, we would all have a very limited amount of understanding pertaining to societal

knowledge.

The topic of single-parenting should be discussed in an issue such as this one. Single

parents in today's day and age are extremely common and certainly, stray from the ideological

two-parent household that many conservatives are in favor of. Albeit, single parents receive

almost no criticism in comparison to same-sex parents. This is extremely hypocritical, especially

since having two parents rather than one is obviously the better option. In connection with the

statement that was mentioned before, children of single-parents obviously have no male role

model present within the household. So then, why does no one question this? Children of a one-

parent household are just as likely to find role models outside of the home. For example, a male

basketball coach can teach a student the more “masculine” traits that a father would likely teach

their child.

Contrary to popular belief, children of homosexual parents are actually not more likely to

grow up to be gay or lesbian as opposed to their counterparts. The biggest concern of

conservatives who oppose same-sex adoption is that the children will grow up to be gay/lesbian

because of the “example” set by their parents. Although heterosexual, and sometimes even

homophobic, parents have raised children who are gay or lesbian. There has been evidence

suggesting that “children of lesbian and gay parents are no more likely than any other child to

grow up to be gay” (“Overview”). Rather than considering same-sex adoption a setback for

children, “there is some evidence that children of gays and lesbians are more tolerant of

diversity” (“Overview”). Therefore, children who have homosexual parents will be part of a
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more accepting society, ultimately making them better people who tolerate the differences that

are ever present amongst the billions of humans in our world.

The fact that a child’s parents are homosexual will also not have any effect on the child’s

gender identity. A research study also found that “Parental sexual orientation and family type did

not affect children’s gender conformity or nonconformity in any significant way” (“Having

Same-Sex Parents”). In 2013, Cambridge University conducted a study which found that the

sexuality and masculine/feminine tendencies of children are unaffected by the sexual orientation

of their parents (“Same-sex”). Therefore, several studies are able to debunk the famous belief

held by opposers that same-sex parents will raise homosexual children with gender identity

issues.

Many believe, and rightfully so, that children who are raised by gay/lesbian parents will

be continuously harassed by their peers and other members of society simply because of the fact

that they have homosexual parents. ACLU states that children are too often ridiculed or teased

because of several reasons Some of these reasons may include a child being “too short or too

tall”, “for being of a different race or religion”, and many other things. But despite this, children

always show “remarkable resiliency” (“Overview”). In reality, children are likely to be bullied or

ridiculed for several reasons, and having same-sex parents is just another reason. Most often,

children are actually more likely to be bullied for superficial reasons, like a person’s physical

appearance, rather than attacking their family. By all means, it is conceded that having

homosexual parents would increase the likelihood of a child being bullied, although, if children

were to be bullied, it would be better to have supportive same-sex parents to help through the

harassment instead of being parentless. As a society, if we begin to embrace and normalize

same-sex parenting, other children would be less likely to bully kids with same-sex parents.
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Throughout the past few years, homosexual relationships and families have strived

toward gaining more recognition and equal rights within our society, albeit, they are still

enduring through tasks such as being able to start families, adopt, and care for foster children. By

maintaining the viewpoint that same-sex couples should not be allowed to adopt/foster children,

we are adhering to an old-fashioned mindset and denying thousands of children loving homes.

Provided that independent adoption agencies remove any sort of provisions against same-sex

parenting, administrators would be participating in a deep social change that the world so greatly

needs. If we begin to accept the fact that same-sex parenting is just as valid as heterosexual

parenting, our society will greatly benefit from such a change.

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Works Cited

Family Research Council. “Ten Arguments From Social Science Against Same-Sex Marriage.”

Family Research Council, www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=if04g01.

“Having Same-Sex Parents Won't Affect Kids' Gender Identity: Study: MedlinePlus Health

News.” MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You,

https://medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_167929.html.

Harris, Elizabeth A. “Same-Sex Parents Still Face Legal Complications.” The New York

Times, The New York Times, 20 June 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/us/gay-pride-

lgbtq-same-sex-parents.html.

“Overview of Lesbian and Gay Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care.” American Civil Liberties

Union, www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/overview-lesbian-and-gay-parenting-adoption-and-

foster-care.

Reilly, Mollie. “Same-Sex Couples Can Now Adopt Children In All 50 States.” The

Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 31 Mar. 2016,

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mississippi-same-sex-

adoption_us_56fdb1a3e4b083f5c607567f.

“Same-sex adoption: The last prejudice?” The Week UK,

www.theweek.co.uk/welfare/35575/pros-and-cons-gay-adoption.