Nick Bradley

Professor Richardson

English 1201

14 March 2019

The LGBTQ+ Community Is Beyond Capable of Raising Children

The LGBTQ+ community has faced a large amount of restrictions against them in the

entirety of the world as well as the United States of America in general. Anything from laws

restricting them through the government to horrific attacks on the community as a whole by

people who simply think differently than the community. In the United States today there is an

immense amount of children in the adoption and foster care system. Statistically, at any given

time in the U.S. there are around “438,000 children in [the] foster care” system (Foster Care).

These children look to have a forever place to call their home and people to call their parents.

More than eligible people wait in line, longing to adopt, just to be told they are being turned

away due to their personal preferences. The LGBTQ+ won the battle against marriage bans on

July 26, 2015 when the supreme court struck down any state laws against Gay Marriage. This

major step forward for the community allowed more and more people to legally marry. These

people look to adopt and foster children, unfortunately less than one fifth of the adoption

agencies in America look to have LGBTQ+ parents adopt from them (Considering Adoption).

The allowance of more gay couples to adopt children would be a massive relief to the amount of

orphaned children in the adoption and foster systems. Unfortunately there are no laws to ban

companies from denying same-sex couples from adopting any given child.

Many adoption agencies cling to the idea that same-sex parents could have a negative

effect on the mental health of the child raised. Much research on the topic shows this to be
almost completely false, yet there is still some disagreement between sociologists in terms of the

mental health of the children. Slowly but surely society has grown more accepting of the

community as we moved towards marriage equality and representation by LGBTQ+ members

and allies in the government. These breakthroughs have been faced with some fairly large steps

back in terms of restrictions placed on the transgender community in terms of their service to the

military. The push for adoption rights is only part of what the community hopes to achieve

through peaceful gatherings and protest. Although same-sex adoption is a very new concept to

some it has become more obvious through research that being raised by two parents of the same

gender does not have a negative impact on the child. With this essay I chose to look into the

results of other sociologists research as well as statistics through surveys in order to make a point

clear. The more educated people are on the topic the more likely there is to be change in the right

direction for those in the foster/adoption circuit as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Overall, adoption by same-sex couples does not negatively impact the growth and development

of children adopted into same-sex families. In fact, in recent studies these children have shown

high social skills as well as empathy toward others. This further proves that the claim by

adoption agencies that it is dangerous to the child is not proven by the amounts of data collected

on the topic.

As more is talked about in terms of this topic there has been a growth of research by

sociologists in terms of same-sex adoptions and its effect on the children involved. It has been

seen in many different studies that the effect a parent has on a child is much more based on the

child’s relationship with the parent as well as his or her parent’s cognitive ability and overall

competence. The “presence of social and economic support for the family” also has a much

larger effect on the child’s growth than the “gender or the sexual orientation of their parents”
when it comes to their development (Barlow, Rich). This puts forth a very strong argument

towards the adoption of children by single-sex couples as it shows that less should be thought

about the personal preferences of the parents. If research shows that the adopted child’s abilities

are based almost completely on the overall relationship of the parent then in many means some

same-sex couples would be more reasonable when choosing then a given straight couple who

doesn’t have the abilities needed to raise a child. With this significant information there is a very

large support towards the idea that children aren’t impacted by the parent’s sexual orientation but

more so their life skills and parenting styles. If we are given a more than competent same-sex

couple shouldn’t we be more than willing to allow them adoption to a child that otherwise may

not find a home with a capable and loving family? The choice should be obvious yet most

organizations choose to ignore this fact.

When it comes to looking at adoption we should look towards the positives of children’s

mental health in homes of same-sex parents. In one of the most evident research seen is the study

of a large group of lesbian mothers and their children. The children were occasionally checked

on by those studying the research case. This study found “high levels of social, school/academic,

and total competence and fewer social problems” in these children (Barlow, Rich). In terms of

social problems they found less breaking of the rules by the kids and an overall larger sense of

empathy throughout their study. These studies when compared to samples of children raised by

successful straight parents was quite similar in terms of how the child was doing within the

family and in life as a whole. This proves to be very telling in the sense it shows that once again

the preferences of the parents are less effective than the raising styles and overall family

dynamic. No matter who is chosen to raise the children scientific studies still show the same

varied results between those of straight and gay parenting units.

 When it comes to studying the social aspects of children raised by gay parents it has

come to show that they have heightened social abilities when compared against children of

traditional family organizations. It also shows that “whether they’re adopted or biologically

related to their same-sex parents” the children have more adept social acceptance and tolerance

toward others (Considering Adoption). This can almost completely be accredited to the fact that

since they are raised in an incommon environment they are shown to celebrate differences and

accept all kinds of people and situations. With this comes the ability to show much empathy in

many different ways due to the same reasoning as to why they are accepting. These kids also

often prove to be able to “communicate about their feelings” much more openly than those raised

by a set of opposite-sex parents (Considering Adoption). This is extremely significant as it also

starts to break down walls of gender roles within the household. These roles would be seen much

more commonly in the traditional household as it would show differences and expectations of

each gender when it comes to being an adult and living life. When there is a parenting base that

is a same-sex couple the child sees both members of the same sex do all the things done by both

men and women in a parenting setting and can grow to know they are capable of doing things not

bound by their gender. Overall this evidence shows and even more why same-sex parents can

help their children grow and evolve into people who are extremely accepting as well as capable

of doing many different things unbounded by their gender.

Another viewpoint on the differences between gay and straight parenting is that well,

there isn’t any. While we have so far seen this to be not as evident and more so look to the idea

that same-sex couples raise more accepting and social children, a study performed by Charlotte J.

Patterson, a PhD in Psychology, shows otherwise. Patterson and her partner show evidence that

in studies that compare traditional parents to same-sex couples and their parenting, there isn’t
much difference at all. The study was conducted by looking at the parent’s self reflections when

it came to both their parenting styles as well as relationship status. When they reviewed the

reports by the parents as well as others, they found that when looking at the gay and lesbian

couples versus the straight couples “were virtually indistinguishable from” one another (C.

Munsey). Although this isn’t as large of a step toward gay parenting being better or worse than

the parenting done by straight couples, it does show that despite the difference in family dynamic

there is still similarities and opposite-sex couples don’t necessarily have an edge on the gay

parents when it comes to the success of their children. This would push forward the idea that

couples should be judged equally no matter their sexual preferences when it comes to the

fostering and adoption world.

Claims have been made that children raised in the household of a same-sex couple are

under more stress than those raised in a traditional setting. A study done by a University of Texas

researcher compared the lives of children with straight parents and parenting affected by the

presence of homosexuality. This study found by an overwhelming majority that the children

raised in the presence of a straight parent base were much more happy and healthy than those in

the other situation. When more research was done on this situation it was discovered how

insanely skewed the results were as the study was held upon an extreme bias of the catholic faith.

As it would turn out the study was conducted on children who were raised in “in happy

heterosexual marriages” against those whose “parents divorced after a gay affair” (Barlow,

Rich). This research as well as many other like this prove next to nothing when it comes to the

attempt to negate the fact that children raised by gay parents can succeed. This is very important

as it show how skewed people views of parenting are based on their religious beliefs and how it

can cause incorrect knowledge. The massive impact religion has in skewing factual evidence is
another reason it is highly difficult for members of a same-sex relationship to adopt and foster

children.

The New York times has written on the idea of same sex-couples still facing major issues

when it comes to adopting children even in the recent years’ more accepting climate. As

discussed earlier, religious affiliation can be a heavy factor in why some organizations may not

allow children to be adopted by gay parents. This bias has shown to “harm children who need

homes by narrowing the pool of people who can adopt them” (Harris). With the ever-growing

amount of children stuck as orphans it is beyond important to open up adoption to as many

capable parents as possible. It simply boils down to the fact that there aren’t enough capable

straight couples out there looking to adopt that can help give homes to as many unadopted

children. The addition of gay and lesbian couples to the list of possible adoptive parents would

allow so many more children to be adopted and taken out of the system that is so hard to get out

of.

A large contradiction within the system is the idea that even as more and more gay

parents are being accepted as possible adoptive parents, they are only offered the children that

have special needs while the traditional parents are given the younger healthier children. With

this said, It has been chalked up to the fact that gay parents don’t have what it takes to raise a

kid, yet they are offered the adoption of children that require much more time and energy and

careful parenting. The Human Rights Campaign brings up this point as well as many other when

discussing what gay parents should look for when they want to adopt. For example they suggest

“thoroughly research[ing] agencies” to be sure you find a good fit for what you are looking for in

terms of an adoption agency (Human Rights Campaign). While there sticks this issue of a

hierarchy when it comes to adopting children there is one upside that has come to show itself in
recent years. Although the process remains lengthy, the use of a private adoption agency

increases the chances of a gay couple finding a match in term sof adoption due to the fact that

abundantly more people that are giving up for adoption are making a choice to have their child

adopted by a gay parenting unit. While this is great news in some cases it doesn’t take care of the

immediate issue of children in widespread adoption systems.

Within this same source it is expressed that there is even more of a problem when it

comes to adoption outside of the United States of America. Although steps have been taken

forward in the direction of equal rights throughout the U.S. there are still major issues across the

globe for members of the LGBTQ+ community in many cases both including and excluding

adoption. While there are many countries like the U.S. that are at a large need for their adoption

agencies to be helped there is a major issue when it comes to LGBTQ+ people wanting to adopt

from them. Unlike the U.S. the rest of the globe holds many countries that have an extreme issue

with the LGBTQ+ community on many levels. Many “countries that have children for adoption

are extremely prejudiced against [the] LGBTQ” people and make it very hard for them to be able

to adopt from their organizations (HRC). It is not only difficult for members of opposite-sex

couples to adopt from these countries but when it comes to being openly gay and in a

relationship it can seem almost completely impossible that these countries accept LGBTQ+

couples as the adoptive parents to the extremely vast issue they have when it comes to the

amount of children in the country that do need adopted.

After looking at all this research it is very clear to see that despite more and more

information being provided on the fact that gay parents are just as effective as straight ones, there

still remains a heavy prejudice against the people of the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to

adoption agencies. Overall research after research project has made it abundantly clear that when
it comes to the mental health of the child it boils down to the parenting techniques and

relationships the parents have with the child and not as much the parent’s personal preferences in

terms of their sexual orientation. As it is evident in many cases, children wind up wildly different

than those of the people they are raised by and are ultimately their own person. The choice

should be clear when it comes to looking at potential parents. Especially in today’s world, the

choice between being raised in a traditional house versus being raised to be more accepting and

empathetic towards others the choice should be extremely clear. With the studies and facts

discussed within this essay it should be clear that the raising of children by same sex-parents

does not have an overwhelmingly negative effect on the child’s well-being or mental health and

in some cases can help both. Parents deserve to be chosen based on their ability to raise children

in a healthy way and not in the way that they choose to love. Mental health of the child is in

significantly better hands with a gay couple than a straight couple that isn’t capable of raising a

kid in a proper and healthy way. As we push forward to be more equal over all this country and

the world must learn what it is we should truly choose to judge members of society on. In

conclusion, members of the LGBTQ+ community have every right to be accepted as an adoptive

parent as they have shown no factually supported harm to a child mentally or developmentally.
 Works Cited

Barlow, Rich. “Gay Parents As Good As Straight Ones | BU Today | Boston

University.” Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | Human Resources, BU Research,

www.bu.edu/today/2013/gay-parents-as-good-as-straight-ones/.

“Considering Adoption.” The Best Source for Adoption Information, Considering

Adoption, consideringadoption.com/adopting/can-same-sex-couples-adopt/gay-adoption-

facts.

“Foster Care.” Children's Rights, www.childrensrights.org/newsroom/fact-sheets/foster-care/.

C. Munsey. “Adopted Children Thrive in Same-Sex Households, Study Shows.”

 American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association,

www.apa.org/monitor/2010/10/adopted-children.

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.

Human Rights Campaign, HRC, www.hrc.org/resources/adoption-options-overview.