Same Sex Adoption

Robinson 1 Same Sex Adoption There is a fierce debate over whether or not same sex couples should be denied the right to adopt children on the basis of their sexual orientation (Morgan, 34). Those who agree with denying same sex couples adoption rights are pro family advocates as they believe that only heterosexual couples should have children (Lively, 76). Many of the strongest pro-family advocates have religious backgrounds (Lively, 86). One opponent to same sex adoption, Colin Hart, implies that such a stance is in the best interest of children (Hart, 8). The opposition to this stance comes from the gay lobby (Rogers, 1). These lobbyists and other groups argue that legalizing same sex adoption is in the best interests of the children (Morgan, 9).Promoting the interests of children is therefore the common ground in this debate. Both factions claim that their assertions are justified by scientific evidence (Rogers, 1). One can see however that based on an analysis of the evidence presented that same sex couples should be denied adoption rights due to their sexual orientation, despite the argument that this stance is homophobic. Adoption is basically defined as being the act of gaining legal parenthood of someone else’s child and taking said child into one’s home (“adopt”, def 1). Rogers implies that the issue of same sex adoption resulted from gay lobbyists calling for granting adoption rights to same sex couples (1). This has led to pro family authors such as Scott lively voicing their opposition to these lobbyists in this regard. This issue is important due to the impact that same sex adoption will have on children and society (Rogers, 1). One reason supporting the denial of adoption rights to gay couples are that children are best reared by heterosexual couples as they provide a balanced upbringing

Robinson 2 (Rogers, 4). According the researcher Henry Biller, heterosexual couples provide a balanced upbringing because each party in these couples contributes complementary and vital lessons unto children (Rogers, 4). The sociologist David Popenoe agrees with this assertion and elaborates on the role each gender’s role in the quote: Through their play, as well as in their other child-rearing activities, fathers tend to stress competition, challenge, initiative, risk taking, and independence. Mothers in their care-taking roles, in contrast, stress emotional security and personal safety….While mothers provide… important flexibility and sympathy in their discipline, fathers provide ultimate predictability and consistency. Both dimensions are critical for… efficient, balanced, and humane child-rearing. (Rogers, 4)

The evidence supporting this claim are the studies showing that children without fathers are significantly more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, 4.3 times more likely to become smokers and are twice as likely to become school dropouts as children growing up with fathers (Rogers, 4). There are also studies showing that motherless girls are 56% more likely to experience teenage pregnancy (Rogers, 4). This evidence strengthens the argument for denying homosexual couples adoption rights as the logical implication of these studies are that same gay couples are incapable of adequately raising children as they only provide one parent model. Another reason supporting the denial of adoption rights to gay couples are that the homosexual community is composed of a higher proportion of pedophiles than the heterosexual community (Sprigg, Civil Right 14). Evidence supporting this premise is

Robinson 3 that studies done on 229 convicted pedophiles shows that eighty six percent of them were self identified bisexuals or homosexuals (Sprigg, Top Ten Myths, 36). Another source of evidence comes from psychiatrist Jeffrey Satinover who stated in a quote that based on careful studies, pedophilia among homosexuals is more than three times more common than with heterosexuals (Rogers, 3). This premise lends strong support for denying adoption rights to gay couples as it implies that allowing gay couples to adopt will increase the rate of child abuse. The third reason supporting the claim that gay couples should be denied adoption rights on the basis of their sexual orientation is that most homosexual couples would be terrible parents due to their short, promiscuous relationships (Lively, 82). Evidence proving that homosexual relationships are promiscuous is a Dutch study of partnered male lovers; that found that men with a “steady partner”, on average, had eight sexual partners annually (Sprigg, Top Ten Myths 45). Evidence proving that these relationships are usually short lived is a large-scale longitudinal study showing that the dissolution rate of lesbian couples during this study was more than four times and that couples gay male couples was more than three-fold that of heterosexual married couples (Sprigg, Top Ten Myths 46). This point is important as the children raised by unstable couples will not learn how to establish stable relationships when they grow older (Lively, 82). Evidence proving that children of gay couples learn unstable behaviors is a study showing that the children of lesbians are more likely to be promiscuous (Sprigg, Top Ten Harms 15 & 16). A counter argument against the stance of denying same sex couples adoption rights along with every other anti-gay stance is that it is homophobic (Lively, 5).Homophobia is defied as the fear and hatred of homosexuals ( “homophobia”).

Robinson 4 This counter argument can be refuted as being an irrelevant, hasty generalization. It is an irrelevant argument as the attitude of people opposing same sex adoption has no effect on the argument’s soundness. This argument is a hasty generalization as one does not have to be fearful or hateful of homosexuals in order to disagree with the granting of adoption rights to gay couples. The next counter argument is that there are many studies that prove that same sex couples are at least as competent at raising children as heterosexual couples (Morgan, 43). This counter argument is inadequate as the studies allegedly proving that gay couples are as competent at raising children as heterosexual couples have been proven to be deliberately biased via unrepresentatively small sample sizes, inadequate or no control groups, the use of self selected volunteers instead of a random sample, and the averaging of the results of these studies to make the data appear more accurate (Morgan, 42-52). In conclusion, based on the analysis of the scientific evidence presented by both sides of this debate, same sex couples should not be allowed to adopt children on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Robinson 5 Works Cited "Adopt." def 1. Longman Active Study Dictionary. Fouth ed. 2004. Print. Hart, Colin. Foreword. Children as trophies? By Patricia Morgan. First ed. Newcastle Upon Tyne: The Christian Institute, 2002. 7-22. Web. 3 Apr. 2011. . "Homophobia." Longman Active study Dictionary. Fourth ed. 2004. . Print. Lively, Scott. Redeeming The Rainbow. first ed. Springfield: Veritas Aeterna Press, 2009. Print Morgan, Patricia. Children as trophies? first ed. Newcastle Upon Tyne: The Christian Institute, 2002. Print. Roger, Gregory. "“Suffer The Children”: What’s Wrong With Gay Adoption?" Christian Research Journal28.2 (2005). Web. 1 Mar. 2011. . Spirgg, Peter. Homosexuality is not a Civil right. First ed. Washington: Family Research Council, 2007. Web. 25 Mar. 2011. . ---,. The Top Ten Harms of same sex marriage. First ed. Washington: Family research council, 2011. 16-18. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . ---,. The Top Ten Myths About Homosexuality. First ed. Washington: Family research council, 2011. 30-39. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .