Gay or Lesbian Parenting and the Psychological Effects on...

There are hundreds of thousands of children who are in foster care and need a home with a family who will love and care for them. Families lead by same-sex couples are viewed as â€Å"non-traditional households† and these parents raise their children in very much the same ways as heterosexual parents. These children grow with their adoptive families and if their parents have a stable relationship with each other and with their adoptive children, and have great support systems, then it should not be difficult for those children to thrive in the world as children of gay/lesbian parents. Families headed by gay and lesbian parents are just as diverse as families led by heterosexual couples (Thompson 36). The only difference in these families is†¦show more content†¦There is an even larger number of single gays and lesbians who are raising children across the country, and the number of single parents is are not even included in the research conducted on families headed by gays and lesbians (Gilgoff). The youngest generation, consisting of those between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine, are more accepting of gay adoption while the oldest generation, consisting of those over the age of sixty-five, are least accepting of gay adoption. Those who are opposed to gay adoption consider the acceptance of gay adoption by the youngest generation to be an â€Å"erosion of traditional cultural values† (Chittom and Wagner). Same-sex couples do not raise their children any differently than heterosexual couples raise their children. Throughout the adoptive child’s life, the adoptive parents must explain to the child why he/she was adopted, but for gay adoptive parents, explanation of their sexual orientation must also be explained using â€Å"age appropriate language† (Gateway Child Wellfare Information). Recently, research has shown that gay and lesbian parents share the parental characteristics of support, protection, and stability that children need. Sexual orientation should not be problem when adopting children. Children adopted by same-sex couples are more likely to be placed with parents who are patient, dedicated to their children, and have respect for the differences of theShow MoreRelated A Study on Gay Parenting Essay1090 Words   |  5 Pagesa sensitive subject in society for a long time, and in recent years, it has sparked both support and controversy in areas such as legalizing gay and lesbian marriage and various other matters that have arisen surrounding the movement towards equality of treatment and integration into society. One of these matters that has garnered attention is gay parenting. With some states now allowing same-sex marriage or unions, the next step being taken is starting a family. There has been wide speculation intoRead MoreAdoption by Same-Sex Couple s Essay example2061 Words   |  9 PagesAdoption by Same-Sex Couples 19th Annual Robyn Rafferty Mathias Conference I. 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