Straight to the Point on Homosexual Adoptions

How many people have had a gay or lesbian friend at one point in their lives? Just about everyone. In fact, most people even have a cousin or an uncle that always brings their friend around on major holidays. It seems no matter how disfavored homosexual relationships are, society finds a way of making them fit in. Lately, society attempts to find acceptance over controversial issue of whether homosexuals really have a God-given right to have their own children and what effects do they have on the kids. In the United States, where Christianity dominates as the nation’s leading religion, homosexuals face serious discrimination concerning their parental rights. However, homosexual adoptions have shown no substantial proof of negative psychological influences on children, nor should the Church forbid this practice based on its double-standard style teachings.

Christianity has undergone dramatic flexibilities since the days of Moses and the Ten Commandments, yet some laws according to Christians will be forever set in stone. For example, Christian pastors of various ethnicities, men and women alike, fiercely discourage homosexuality. So it goes without question that they, in turn, oppose a homosexual’s right to adopt. They often quote Leviticus 18, where God refers to homosexuality as one of the most repulsive sins: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Lev. 18:22) However, many Christian followers fail to realize that by Levitical standards, many of their pastors break biblical laws themselves. For instance, the teaching of God’s word is allowed only by Jews and not gentiles, allowing women to speak in congregation is not allowed, and wearing articles of clothing made of cotton or polyester goes against the beliefs. Apparently, Christians allow for some things to change, but not a person’s right to be a homosexual parent. The church is the biggest form of opposition toward homosexual adoption, but that has nothing to do with the rest of society, especially the people who are concerned about the psychological effects of homosexual parenting.

Studies exist that support and oppose gay adoptions with both sides highly contrasting in their findings of its psychological effects on children. Some experts say children from either bisexual or homosexual households are psychologically fine. On the other hand, there are researchers that claim these homosexual tendencies confuse children. Many people worry homosexual parents will raise children that will become homosexuals themselves. Evidence suggests, there is likely some level of confusion for a child to grow up with both parents being the same sex. In his book, Lesbian mothers--psychosocial assumptions in family (941-?), P. J. Falk provides research that found daughters of lesbian mothers tend to grow up more promiscuous and are more likely to experiment in homosexuality or bisexuality.

Although the study suggests an increased likelihood of promiscuity and experimentation, society needs to consider whether this exposure to the unknown really hurts or in actuality helps children to make better decisions in their lives. Secondly, what other studies provide information in support of gay adoption? Indeed, there are studies that claim adopted children from same-sex households turn out just as fine as those of heterosexual parents. One major supporter for this theory comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a recognized nonpartisan organization. On February 4, 2002, the AAP publicized their controversial policy stating that children could be brought up with equally good results by homosexual or heterosexual parents. The AAP defended its stance, citing their extensive review of 31 published studies that “proves” its case. Due to these inconsistent results, society is left with psychological effects that are still unclear. Judith Stacey, a sociologist from the University of Southern California, confirms that today’s data is too broad-based and conflicting to get an accurate interpretation of a child’s psychological effects in relation to gay