Haasjes 1

Chayse Haasjes

Ms. Layson

English 11B 4th hour

2019 March 29

Same-sex Parenting

Parents are a very important part of someone’s childhood. Parents take care of children

and try their best to make their kids’ lives better. However, some kids don’t have parents and a

great solution to this problem is letting LGBT couples adopting. Same-sex couples don’t get as

many rights as Opposite-sex couples do, and certain laws can be seen as unfair to the LGBT

community. Homosexuals should have the right to adopt.

Same-sex parenting became controversial during the early twentieth century. LGBT

citizens weren’t accepted as a whole during this time in the first place, so for them to be wanting

to have kids of their own, they get judged and looked at as wrong even more. LGBT parents also

have more financial barriers when wanting a family because genetically they can’t have kids of

their own. This makes it harder and more difficult for same-sex parents because opposite-sex

parents can plan for kids, and not have to pay extra in order to have their family. The adoption

process cost almost up to $50,000 for male couples, and for females, it could be anywhere

between $1,000 to $3,000. Adoption and Fostering agencies have the right to deny parents for

being same-sex because society looks at them as being unfit parents. The majority of the U.S.

population is religious and that would also have a negative effect on same-sex parents.

All kids need parents so it makes sense why same-sex couples want kids. They want to

help save kids who don’t have homes, perhaps from self-experience or from generosity. Either

way, same-sex parents deserve the same opportunity at opposite-sex parents get. Opposite-sex
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couples have better financial options because they have the ability to have kids without adopting.

This makes it a little more expensive for same-sex couples because they have to have the ability

to adopt kids and financially support them. There are laws against couples who aren’t married

that they can’t adopt kids. This is unfair to LGBT parents because, in some states, you can’t get

married. “There are also efforts to have Illinois, Colorado, and Arizona to have same-sex

marriage banned off the ballot” (Davidoff). The government should make more of an effort to

show that LGBT couples and opposite-sex couples are equal. Gay marriage also affects

children's well-being.

The legal system can be very unfair to certain citizens, whether that being discriminating

against, gender, race, or sexual orientation. People’s sexual orientation has prevented people

from being able to succeed in life. Certain gay people can’t get jobs because companies and or

their state government not allowing employment because of their sexual orientation. The legal

system has a lot of flaws, especially when it comes to equal rights. People who have kids of their

own cannot always take care of them, which makes children's lives at risk, and all anyone wants

to do is help the children. “The children in these families are exceptionally vulnerable” (Taylor).

Which should give the United States more valid reasons why same-sex couples make great

parents.

Reasons, why LGBT parents should adopt, are that it saves children's lives, financially

would give more opportunities for families to be able to afford kids, and it would put a lot less

stress on parents who can’t or don’t want children. “State policies banning gay men and lesbians

from fostering or adopting children hurt everyone involved” (Hunt). This shows that everyone in

the adoption process is involved from adopting parents, biological parents, and the children

overall. “some gay or lesbian parents are willing to make use of antigay laws in order to gain
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advantage in a bitter personal dispute with their former partners—even at the expense of their

own children's welfare”. Gay men and lesbian couples are even willing to have a divorce in

order to protect the children that they’ve grown attached too.

Some people believe that their religious beliefs have an effect on LGBT parents and why

they shouldn’t and can’t adopt. Which is true; however, not a logical reason. “LGBT marriage is

a ‘family’ issue targeted specifically for kids” (Heiser). People’s religion is something that they

as an individual can control. Other people pick and choose what they can and don’t want to

believe. So this using people’s religion shouldn’t be based on State and Federal Laws that make

it illegal for same-sex couples to have kids.

Same-sex couples should be able to adopt. It would help children find homes and families

who love them. The government is very biased to opposite-sex couples, which makes same-sex

couples have to suffer because the law is unfair to them, and they can’t adopt kids.

Work Cited

Davidoff, Judith. "Same-Sex Partners and Parents Deserve the Same Legal Rights as Straight
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Couples." Gay Parenting, edited by Beth Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing

Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010844228/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=e4ed1612. Accessed 21 Mar. 2019. Originally published as "No Wedding Bells,"

The Progressive, vol. 70, no. 8, Aug. 2006.

Heiser, James. "Gay Families Are a Threat to Religion." Gay Parenting, edited by Beth

Rosenthal,

Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010844217/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=7b42e481. Accessed 27 Mar. 2019. Originally published as "Archbishop Protests

Obama's Anti-Marriage Agenda," The New American, 30 Sept. 2011.

Hunt, Jerome, and Jeffrey Krehely. "Homosexuals Should Be Allowed to Adopt."

Homosexuality,

edited by David Haugen and Susan Musser, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing

Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010143407/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=4fba1e71. Accessed 21 Mar. 2019. Originally published as "State Antigay

Adoption Policies Need to Go,", 12 Oct. 2010.

"LGBTQ Rights and State Laws." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017.

Opposing

Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/QSQWGQ847960079/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid

=OVIC&xid=98ba2cf9. Accessed 21 Mar. 2019.

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Taylor, Camilla. "The Legal System Is Unfair to Gay Parents." Gay Parenting, edited by Beth

Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in

Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010844211/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=ec119613. Accessed 21 Mar. 2019. Originally published as "Gay v. Gay Custody

Battles," Of Counsel, Sept. 2009.