Jaqueline Gonzalez

RWS 1302
March 2018

Introduction

We live in a very diverse era, one where we advocate for justice, equal pay, but most

importantly, equality. The majority of this era identify as liberals and are open to same sex

couples. Adoption has been a phenomenal way for a variety of people to have the opportunity

to become parents. This can be done in multiple different ways. Physically conceiving a child

can sometimes be impossible which later can cause distress for the couple themselves. At

times, some parents aren’t allowed to adopt for many reason, some as basic as same sex

couples. This varies in some states. Controversial comments have been brought up for the past

few years regarding same sex couples being denied the opportunity when having the interest to

adopt a child. This affects the LGBTQ community and can cause emotional or psychological

complications in their lives.

Many people believe that same sex couples should not be allowed to be parents

because they don’t fit the equation. ‘There should always be a mother and father figure for a

child,’ they may say. When two males want to adopt, the stereotypes they experience are

nonetheless horrendous. The only focus others have to have, is that a child is gaining a family

and that’s it. Basing this information with the reading, we are able to conclude that children

born or raised in a different sex parent household and those raised in a same sex parent

household, had little to no difference in behavior or emotional problems. For these issues,

merits thoughts in the following three questions:

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RWS 1302
March 2018

• Does society believe that everyone should have a male and female figure throughout
their lives?
• Does having a same sex couple as their legal parent/ guardian change children’s views
towards them as parents?
• Growing up with same sex parents, does the child’s surroundings affect the way the
child lives their everyday life?

These questions will help the reader fully understand the stereotypes these individuals face

before and even during the process of adoption. This not only makes it difficult for them to

adopt but harms them psychologically throughout the process of adoption.

Does society believe that everyone should have a male and female figure throughout their

lives?

The difficulty that same sex couple face when trying to adopt, is based off on their gender.

Allowing a child to live in a same sex house instead of a heterosexual one, is an issue society

sees. They overlook on the situation and reinterpret it as an untruthful home for a child to be

raised in. To comprehend this issue, some try to bring awareness to what they go through, in

order to prevent any sort of discrimination. After researching and coming across a variety of

articles, one in particular caught my attention. “Family Structure and Child Health: Does the Sex

Composition of Parents Matter?” This article brings facts towards the reader about same sex

parents, even identifying that sexual orientation can do no ‘damage’ towards a child’s health.

By identifying the factors on this study, the reader will be able to conclude how same sex

parents, have no direct correlation in children’s futures if they end up ‘problematic.’ Presented
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RWS 1302
March 2018

in 2014 by the US Census Bureau, approximately one percent of all marriages in American were

same sex couples. Using this data, it will help broadcast the number of same sex couples

alongside straight couples. The difference is drastically different and goes to show how little of

them are publicly identified in the LGBTQ community. This information can be used to provide

knowledge to individuals that have no comprehension in this topic and provide resources to

those who grow up with same sex couples. According to Pew Research Center, society can

perceive same sex couples in a variety of ways but tend to be more judgmental when it comes

to them forming families. This can later lead to chaotic situations between the same sex couple

and the agency where they are adopting from. Some same sex couples will end up giving up in

the middle of the process, because of the horrendous issues they may encounter.

Does having a same sex legal parent/ guardian change the child’s views towards them as

parents?

A few decades ago, same sex couples were not a norm. Past generations saw these individuals

as mentally ill or satanic people. They thought that with counseling or a church camp, they

would be able to ‘pray the gay away.’ The Baby Boomer generation, was probably one of the

toughest times to live in if you were a ‘gay’ person. The disrespect that a ‘gay’ person or a same

sex couple would acquire was tremendously inappropriate. Millennials today are more opened

to this subject than ever before. Still, to this day, these individuals face a variety of stereotypes

by older generations. If a same sex couple decides to adopt, their children see them as parents,
Jaqueline Gonzalez
RWS 1302
March 2018

and not something different. Some individuals that have no knowledge within these families,

tend to believe that the child portrays their parents with a different aspect. Whether they

believe their parents are mutually communicative, the child can later perceive other same sex

couples as cohesive couple. Embracing this topic to children at a young age, can lead to children

being more accepting and sensitive towards same sex couples. As stated in ‘Child Trends,”

children that are born to a same sex couple or any other heterosexual couple, should be raised

with safety, encouragement, and support. With that being said, children that are born to a

same sex couple, usually never feel as if their parents are any different than others.

Source: McCarthy Justin (May 21, 2014) Same Sex Marriage Support Reaches New High

at 55%. http://news.gallup.com/poll/169640/sex-marriage-support-reaches-new-high.aspx
Jaqueline Gonzalez
RWS 1302
March 2018

Source: Above information was tallied into whether same sex couples should be legally

acknowledged by the law. This allows everyone to fully have a legal marriage in the LGBTQ

community.

Growing up with same sex parents, does the child’s surroundings affect the way the child

lives their everyday life?

Growing up, a child always sees their parents as role models. They grow up with their

innocent mentalities that are pure and drastically open minded. When they are born, the minds

of children are like a blank sheet of paper. As a blank sheet of paper, children are new and

absorbent to the information of the world. They can be raised to follow a certain belief and

acquire formal family morals. Both positive and negative behaviors and ideas can be taught to a

child. With that being said, society cannot blame same sex couples if a child grows up to be

‘problematic.’ A child’s behaviors can be deeply impacted by their surroundings in or out of

their homes. In June of 2015, same sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states, making a clear

announcement that same sex couples were ‘okay’ by law. Same sex marriage is just as

important as any other marriages. These ‘marriages’, get characterized wrongly, and bashed

frequently. If a couple wants to adopt a child in need, it is more than evident, that they should

be able to. Our society today, has uplifted many stereotypical aspects, which cause so much

controversial issues.
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RWS 1302
March 2018

The way that same sex couples are portrayed, unreliable rather dependable, has caused

a major altered persona towards individuals getting labeled as something they might not be.

Society today, is extremely diverse compared to a decade or two ago, which should be a ‘norm’

today. There are thousands of children in the foster care system which sit and wait for almost

eighteen years to get adopted. Some even exceed eighteen and have to be let go from the

orphanage or foster home. This can permanently cause psychological and emotional defects on

a child for the rest of their lives. The question here is, why can’t everyone be for same sex

couples being able to adopt a child. By permitting such act, it can help reduce the number of

children that do not get foster and that stay in the system for a longer amount of time

compared to others. These individuals get characterized for being the way they are, while

instead of judging the, others should take the same step as they do, to bring happiness into a

child’s life. The irony that this arrangement has and the affects it has on certain people is

senseless and irrational.

Conclusion

Finalizing in why same sex couples should be able to adopt, according to the following

articles, all the children that are being put into foster care and allowed to be adopted by these

partners, are being adopted accordingly. The foster care system does not home children to

individuals that seem to be unqualified or unfit for this task. Parenting is something that not

everyone knows how to do, but even a same sex couple can moderate into this process. By
Jaqueline Gonzalez
RWS 1302
March 2018

allowing these individuals to care for these children, it will help reduce the number of children

that stay in the system for a long time. Not only will this continue to be beneficial towards a

child’s future but will help increase awareness for others experiencing adoption for the first

time.
Jaqueline Gonzalez
RWS 1302
March 2018

References

Drake, B. (2013, June 25). How LGBT adults see society and how the public sees them.
Retrieved March, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/25/how-
lgbt-adults-see-society-and-how-the-public-sees-them/

Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2015, November). Growing up with gay parents: What is the big deal?
Retrieved March, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771005/

Green, A. A., & Gooze, R. A. (2017, September 15). Why It's Time to Learn More about the
Children of LGBT Parents. Retrieved March, 2018, from
https://www.childtrends.org/why-it-is-time-to-learn-more-about-the-children-of-lgbt-
parents/

Herman, G. (2017). The Kids: Children of L.G.B.T. Parents. Retrieved March, 2018, from
https://thekids.gabrielaherman.com/

Killie, L. W., & Weigel, M. (2016, December 21). Same-sex marriage and children's well-being:
Research roundup. Retrieved March, 2018, from https://journalistsresource.org/studies
/society/gender-society/same-sex-marriage-children-well-being-research-roundup

“Legal Issues for Gay and Lesbian Adoption.” Findlaw, family.findlaw.com/adoption/legal-

issues-for-gay-and-lesbian-adoption.html.

McCarthy, J. (2014, May 21). Same-Sex Marriage Support Reaches New High at 55%. Retrieved
March, 2018, from http://news.gallup.com/poll/169640/sex-marriage-support-reaches-
new-high.aspx

US Census Bureau. (n.d.). Same-Sex Couples. Retrieved April 03, 2018, from
https://www.census.gov/topics/families/same-sex-couples.html

Velencia, J. (2017, December 07). Poll: Support For Same-Sex Marriage Reaches Record High.
Retrieved March, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/20/support-for-
same-sex-marriage-_n_7342790.html