Weighing in on the question of gay adoption, even tho I haven't yet said I have no problem with gay marriage. With or without "marriage," I think that a stable, mature and loving parent or parents is more important than whether that parent is male or female and whether a couple is 2male or 2female or 1ofeach.
I thought that story on ABC (think it was Diane Sawyer) where Rosie O'Donnell "came out" on tv in support of gay adoption said some interesting things. I'm with Mathman, many of the children available for adoption are difficult to place. That story on ABC (forget when it was - at least a year or two ago) highlighted a male couple who were good foster parents for difficult children. The State of Florida trusted them with the kids, but when they tried to adopt a boy with HIV, who they had been parenting practically since his birth, they ran into discrimination.
However, Ptichka, I can certainly see the emotional component against letting gay men adopt. For so long, we have been hearing so much about priest pedophiles. Pedophilia is statistically more common with male offenders and the emotional costs for the child are so high that it does give one pause. In theory, if prospective parents are screened adequately, it shouldn't happen. But it does and not just for adoptive parents. I guess it becomes a chance that society takes in adoption. But there are plenty of pedophiles who have children, are related to children, live near children or put themselves in a position to be near children.
I also think there is a risk of discrimination - against the parents, the children, the family as a whole. As for role models.....a child who gets the basics of love and caring and ethics should have the tools to adjust to a lack of a father or mother. I think all children are better off with parents. Period.
Whew! Guess I'll jump off the soapbox and take a breath!
I thought that story on ABC (think it was Diane Sawyer) where Rosie O'Donnell "came out" on tv in support of gay adoption said some interesting things. I'm with Mathman, many of the children available for adoption are difficult to place. That story on ABC (forget when it was - at least a year or two ago) highlighted a male couple who were good foster parents for difficult children. The State of Florida trusted them with the kids, but when they tried to adopt a boy with HIV, who they had been parenting practically since his birth, they ran into discrimination.
However, Ptichka, I can certainly see the emotional component against letting gay men adopt. For so long, we have been hearing so much about priest pedophiles. Pedophilia is statistically more common with male offenders and the emotional costs for the child are so high that it does give one pause. In theory, if prospective parents are screened adequately, it shouldn't happen. But it does and not just for adoptive parents. I guess it becomes a chance that society takes in adoption. But there are plenty of pedophiles who have children, are related to children, live near children or put themselves in a position to be near children.
I also think there is a risk of discrimination - against the parents, the children, the family as a whole. As for role models.....a child who gets the basics of love and caring and ethics should have the tools to adjust to a lack of a father or mother. I think all children are better off with parents. Period.
Whew! Guess I'll jump off the soapbox and take a breath!
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