Adoption Becoming Easier For Gays

cbs ^ | 10-29-03

[wheelgunguru]

(CBS/AP) About 60 percent of the nation's adoption agencies now accept applications from gays and lesbians, though resistance remains strong among many church-affiliated agencies, a new survey by a leading adoption institute says.

Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, predicted the holdouts would grow fewer in number as more homosexuals try to become parents.

"It's safe to assume this is a trend that is headed upward in a very consistent way," Pertman told CBS Radio News, adding that more and more adoption agencies feel gays make good parents.

"Their experience is evidently showing that gays and lesbians, as the research indicate, are making good parents, and so they are going back to the parents who are successful for them for children who are waiting for homes," he said.

Debate over parenting by gays has been an important element in the broader dispute over whether to permit same-sex marriage. Opponents of gay adoption say children do best growing up with both a mother and father, and they contend same-sex marriages would make it easier for gays to adopt. Supporters say gays, whether single or as a couple, can provide a loving home for children who otherwise would be in institutions or foster care.

"The child who's older, who's of color, who has special needs, those are the children who are more likely to be adopted by gays and lesbians," said Pertman.

The Donaldson Institute survey did not attempt to estimate the number of children adopted by gays; instead, it surveyed 307 adoption agencies — 277 private and 30 public — regarding their policies.

According to the survey, 60 percent of the agencies accept applications from self-identified gays and lesbians, and 40 percent of the agencies have placed children with such parents.

Attitudes also varied according to the agencies' focus. Pertman said some agencies are more likely to accept adoption applications from gay couples than some others.

"Agencies that deal with children in foster care, that is, public agencies, and agencies that deal with adoptions from abroad, are the most likely, along with Jewish- and Lutheran-affiliated agencies," he said.

Other agencies that were affiliated with religious denominations were less likely to welcome applications from gays, according to the survey.

About half the agencies said they routinely informed birth parents before placing a child with a gay adoptive parent. About one-fourth of the agencies said some birth parents had objected to such a placement or specifically asked that their child not be placed in a gay-led household.

Though a majority of agencies worked with lesbians and gays, only 19 percent made specific efforts to seek them out, the survey found.

Overall, the institute said the findings were good news for gays who want to become parents.

"For homosexuals wishing to become parents, the results paint a more encouraging picture than is often portrayed or perceived," the survey summary said. "Although stereotypes and misconceptions still perpetuate policy and practice... the willingness of adoption agencies to accept gay and lesbian adults as parents means more and more waiting children are moving into permanent, loving families."

Data for the survey was collected in 2001 and 2002, then compiled and assessed for the adoption institute by David Brodzinsky, a psychology professor and adoption expert at Rutgers University.

Florida is the only state that explicitly bans adoption by any gay person; its law is being challenged by gay foster parents backed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Mississippi bans adoption by gay couples, while Utah forbids adoption by any unmarried couple, including gay couples.

[keithtoo]

....but procreation is just a difficult!

[bmwcyle]

And the sperm gets to the egg how?

[bmwcyle]

Are there any reasons Libertarians on a Conservative site asking questions with their immoral outlook of life?

[bmwcyle]

When the defence of sin comes into the tent.

[bmwcyle]

Your will never understand in your current state of life. Your questions will never lead you to the truth. As for your questions, they lead nowhere over and over. I am so sick of you Libertarians and your worthless questions.

[longtermmemmory]

Massachusetts Supreme Court cover piece. Remember the leftist woman judge on that court wants children to be a mere accessory to a non-istitution contract only marriage system.

[longtermmemmory]

Given the number of studies that show these children are far more likely to have mental issues. (the new zeland study comes to mind. It studied children of lesbian situations.)

Christianity is based on judgments. Yes Christ went to the sinners and was very welcoming. But the message lost is the fact that his presense was based on "go forth and sin no more" as the end result. He did not allow the prostitute to wash his feet and keep prostituting.

You are right you can't chrry pick. BUT that does not make homosexuality less immoral.

Regardless, on non-religious grounds alone children should be nowhere near homosexuals during their tender years. It is no more acceptable than having children around swinger clubs, bondage clubs, animal sex groups, or any other sexual fetish. As far as children are concerned, homosexuality is one developmental problem that is 100% avoidable.

[Belial]

Outside of all the emotion and rhetoric, it would be interesting to see statistics on how gay couples have fared in the adoption business.

From my own perspective, I have met two gay couples who are interested in adoption. Both couples would makes excellent caregivers.

[Belial]

As far as children are concerned, homosexuality is one developmental problem that is 100% avoidable.

Huh?? Do you personally feel that heterosexuality is 100% avoidable?

[longtermmemmory]

its an issue of money. The homosexual couples view a child as the latest fashion accessory. They are willing to pay. Attorneys who provide these services have only one family qualification. Is there money green.

They will then have one partner go through the adoption process and then the second will be granted guardianship rights.

Since homosexuals tend to go through private adoption agencies, they avoid some oversight "issues."

[Belial]

If God wanted homosexuals to be the dominant family core, all the animals on Noah's are would of been gay. There would no animals here now because that is not what God wanted. This F'ing world is so upside down now thanks to stupid people.

After advocating that all species of animals were for a brief time floating around in a boat, I wouldn't cast stones from glass houses.

[jsbankston]

Considering the alternatives I have no real problem with gay couples adopting children.

Gays adopting children means less children in state run orphanages. Would you rather be raised by a gay couple or be raised by government employees in an orphanage making six bucks an hour?

More adoptions lead to fewer abortions. Would you rather have been aborted or raised by a gay couple?

[longtermmemmory]

orphanages were stopped years ago.