Adopting a Child: Legal Process of Parental Responsibility Transfer - Research Paper

Introduction

The adoption process is an issue that involves assuming the parental responsibility of another person. Most of the time, the adopted person is a child that can be taken from their biological parents or the adoption agencies that offers home to children that have lost their parents through death or they have run away from home. The adoption process should be legal, and this helps to transfer all responsibilities and rights to the person taking the kid. Anyone interested in adopting a kid can do so, but they have to follow the right measures that are laid out by the government. Gay parents are a composition of two men that have agreed to live as a couple. Biologically, they cannot have children, and they may desire to adopt a kid to ensure that they have offspring to look after. There is a debate on whether gay parents should be permitted to adopt, and I believe that they have the right to undertake the process if they have the means to provide for the adopted children. When they manage to achieve these factors, they are legally in a position to take a child under their parental care. They should be of the right age that the regulatory bodies need before they can authorize an adoption. The gay parents should have supportive families, they should be healthy and have the finances that are needed to raise the kid. In most of the cases, everyone is eligible to adopt irrespective of sexual orientation or their family set-up.

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The gay parents face various challenges when they are undertaking the adoption process considering that some agencies deny them the chance to take children under their care. A significant number of birth parents are unwilling to place their children under the care of gay couples. There are countries in the world that have laws restricting the gays from adopting children, further placing these family settings at a disadvantaged position. Whenever they are allowed to have an adopted child, they are approved as a single parent where one of the persons involved in the marriage is the one regarded as the parent to the child. The other person is denied the opportunity and responsibilities over the child. However, things are changing, and countries around the world are accepting the fact that gay parents are in a position to raise adopted children like a normal family.

I believe gay couples can offer a home study, which is one of the requirements to facilitate the adoption process. They have a home that is conducive for raising a child. Whenever they have a healthy living environment that is suitable for a kid to live, they should not be denied the chance to undertake the process. The gay parents may have several rooms to host the kid, and in this case, they should be allowed to undertake the adoption process.

Financial capability is one of the major issues that should be considered when undertaking the adoption process. It is challenging to prove financial stability, and gay parents should manage to show that they have plans on the way that they want to run their family. The adoption agencies should be convinced beyond doubt that the prospective future income of the couple is enough to run their affairs and those of the adopted child. Having another member of a family leads to an increased expense, and if the gay couple can manage to meet the costs raised, they should not be denied the chance to have a child. A significant number of gay couples have the financial ability to support a child, and they should be permitted to adopt.

Life changes are other issues that should be considered when facilitating the adoption of a child. Gay couples can make adjustments to their lives to ensure that they manage to offer parental support and love to an adopted child. Having a kid can have a social impact on a family and couples are willing to make the necessary changes that will ensure that a child is comfortable (Golombok, et al. 460). Many of these prospective parents understand that having another family member is likely is to affect their relationship with friends. They understand that they have a role in protecting the adopted family member, and they are always willing to adjust their livelihood. Therefore, they are better suited to take a new family member. A significant number of them are even willing to let the people close to them know that they are adopting a kid. The notification ensures that everyone party that will be in contact with the adopted child is comfortable with their changed situation. They are always willing to let the families that have a child to assist in the adoption process. The assistance provides them with an opportunity to get details on the procedures that they need to implement when the kid comes to their home. Therefore, the strong support base that they create is an enough to ensure that they get a chance to undertake the adoption process.

It is critical to note that the process of adopting and raising a child is challenging and requires a lot of support from various systems for gay parents to achieve success. Various small issues, such as being late to pick them from school, can be stressful for a child and should be avoided. The gay parents are good at managing time, an indication that they cannot suffer such problems when they are looking after an adopted kid. The fact that the child will be looked after by two adults is an issue that should offer the adoption agency the guarantee that a kid will have a good time with a gay couple (Tornello, Samantha, Sonnenberg, and Patterson 365). When one of the adults is not available to support the child, the other will have the time to do it.

When looking at the age of the prospective parents when they want to adopt the child, most of them are in the age of majority, which is 21 years and above. Therefore, they are within the stipulated age that is needed to ensure that they are in a position to take care of a child. The adoption agencies or the birth parents prefer that the adopting couple be people of integrity and of the right and legal age. Considering that gay parents meet these criteria, they should not be denied the opportunity to make their life happy by having an adopted kid.

Gay couples are normal people, and they manage to portray a positive, healthy status meaning that they are in a position to handle an adopted kid. They do not experience cases of chronic illness or any other serious ailments that can make them be incapacitated to take care of a young kid. They are even willing to get a letter from a recognized physician that states their health status, an indication that they are eager to go an extra length to prove that their situation supports their ability to handle a small kid. Many gay couples do not indulge in drug abuse, meaning that they do not require rehabilitation. There is no way that they can place the life of the adopted kid at risk or neglect their duties as parents.

Their stable health condition, lack of drug use, and emotional stability are enough testament that they are in the right frame of mind and soul to have another being in their lives. They are always willing to undertake the child abuse process of clearance to determine if they can engage in practices that can harm a child. Their willingness to undergo the process indicates that they are ready to follow all the regulations and procedures set by the adoption agencies, the authorities, or the birth parents before they are allowed to adopt a kid. When engaging in the clearance process, if something is found, they are always ready to stop the adoption process (Farr, Kyle, and Bruun 120). Therefore, they should not be denied a chance to have a kid. The critical thing that they should be subjected to includes the determination of whether they are fulfilling all the regulations that the agencies require them to meet.

A significant number of gay parents do not have any criminal record that may prevent them from being considered suitable for children's adoption. The uncertainty of getting matched should not worry the adoption agency. Gay parents can be given enough time to interact with the kid in the facilities where the child is staying. They should be allowed to create a bond and ensure that when they leave for home, they will already have an understanding of each other. Therefore, the issue of uncertainty of matching will not a problem that the birth parents or the agency can worry about. The gay couples are capable of attending these familiarization programs to the end, and they should be permitted to adopt.

Some countries in the world have passed laws that clarify that gays should not be discriminated against. In the United States, in the era of President Obama, this category of people were given an opportunity to enjoy equal rights to heterosexual people. The move meant that they had equal rights and abilities when it came to adopting children. However, President Trump decided to overturn the rule to ensure that the faith-based adoption agencies relied on the issue of faith to determine the people that are suitable to adopt a kid (Taylor). The faith-based welfare entities are likely to ensure that same-sex couples are not getting adopted kids. Therefore, it is clear that some nations prevent gay couples from adopting children not because of their inability to raise them, but other factors that do not hold much weight (Whitehead, and Perry 790).

Some of the concerns raised are not supported by facts, an indication that they are statements made only to discourage the adoption agencies from allowing gay parents to adopt kids. It is stated that children raised by gap parents are likely to experience gender identity issues in comparison to the kids that are reared by heterosexual guardians. Additionally, it is often stated that personal development is adversely affected. It is claimed that they are likely to experience a mental breakdown, behavioral problems, and adjustment difficulties. It has been claimed that they experience social difficulties, and they may be stigmatized and teased by their peers for staying with gay parents (Takacs, Judit, Ivett Szalma, and Bartus 1790). The fear that they will be abused by gay parents is unfounded. An important issue to note that gay couples have a wide network of people that they can consult on the way to take care of the adopted kids. Their main desire is to have a kid, and it is illogical when it is stated that they will be the same people to torment them. Social difficulties are unfounded issues considering that the parents would be willing to include friends in the rearing process, especially when it comes to forming a social circle. Having friends of similar ages is critical in their development, and this is where the friends will play a crucial role (Tasker, Fiona, and Bellamy). The sexual identity touching on matters of sexual orientation, gender-role behavior, and gender identity develops the same way among kids raised by gay parents and those taken care of by heterosexual guardians (Miller, Graham, Kors, and Macfie 14). Their personal development does not post much difference between these two categories of parenting.

Conclusion

To sum up, gay couples should be permitted to adopt children for they are not lesser parents in comparison to the heterosexual guardians. A significant number of them are willing to offer the home study a move that will ensure that the adopted child is offered a conducive environment to grow. They also understand that the inclusion of another member of the family is likely to change their life, and they are willing to go to any extent that will ensure that the child feels comfortable. The myths raised about the problems that a child raised by gay parents is likely to experience are wrong. It is claimed that their personal development, social aspects, and gender identity will be negatively affected. However, there is...