Gay and Lesbian Adoption

by Calida Sevier

In today’s society, we realize that children flourish in a loving home, not necessarily in a home with both a man and a woman under the roof. It’s now understood that a person’s ability to care for a child, and not his or her sexual orientation, should determine his or her rights to be a parent.

Gay and lesbian adoption is by no means a new concept, but in recent years the practice has sparked some debate. The reason that it’s so openly discussed today may be that very subject of alternative lifestyles has become a common topic of discussion. Gays and lesbians no longer feel compelled or obligated to hide their lifestyles, and can freely pursue the same legal considerations as heterosexual adoptive parents.

In the past, gay and lesbian adoption has been a subject of attack by the government, social agencies, and society in general. In those days (and, sadly, even today) some people believed that children who were not raised in the presence of both man and woman as parents would suffer emotional and behavioral harm. Others vainly argued that exposing a boy or girl to homosexuality at a young age could potentially affect the development of the child. These archaic beliefs held that the child may suffer from delayed sexual maturity or even “learn to be gay”.

Until recently, many homosexual couples were forced to lie about their personal lives in order to be considered as adoptive parents. One partner would petition for adoption and complete the adoption process, while the other partner posed as a friend or roommate. This tactic could prove successful, but the very act of adopting a child requires full disclosure and honesty from all parties. Being forced to lie about their own fundamental lifestyles put these adoptive parents in a very tense situation.

Society’s general acceptance of gay and lesbian adoption has fortunately changed, making legal entitlement much more accessible to couples. Gay adoption is now quite common and potential parents are free to choose from the three basic adoption processes:

The Independent Adoption

This process involves a third party, but not a social worker or a typical adoption agency. Attorneys and doctors often facilitate independent adoptions, with the final decisions resting on the families involved. This type of adoption is illegal in many states and countries, but there are some areas in the world that will accept and recognize it as a legal process.

International Adoption

Some studies suggest that international adoption is the most complicated and difficult choice for gay and lesbian couples. When a child from another country is adopted, the adoptive parents must work with an adoption agency. It can be tricky to find an agency that is willing to deal with an international country and able to find a child to place with a gay couple. This is simply because many cultures and countries still discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Public Agency Adoption Process

The most common adoption process, this involves the courts and the adoption agency in the decision to grant or deny the application. These groups and delegates will ideally act in the best interest of the child, putting aside any personal bias. There are experts suggesting that this system is still somewhat subjective toward the attitudes of the agency and state.

Gay and lesbian adoption, although more common and freely discussed, remains a matter of controversy for certain conservative groups. Homosexual couples may still feel the need to hide their lifestyle from homophobic eyes; however, modern trends of acceptance indicate that the tides are shifting for the better.

About the Author:

Author Calida Sevier contributes to a variety of popular web magazines, on lesbian issues and pharmaceutical product issues.

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