Adoption Agencies: When to Give Out or Leave in Foster Care - Essay Sample

Introduction

The world is full of children in need of homes, families, and parental care, the reason why so many adoption agencies exist. Some adoption agencies, however, at times, face a challenge as to whether to give children out for adoption or let them remain in foster care. One might ask why when it is evident that the number of children in need of adoption keeps growing by the day. When society shuns one's existence, it proves difficult for such a person to participate in activities or live within the society even with the ability to provide solutions. The L.G.B.T.Q. People face stigmatization and discrimination as a result of shunning from society. A lot of their rights, especially in adoption, are violated. Many of them are capable of providing good care to children but face rejection most of the time, especially from adoption agencies. The society fears that children raised by gay parents may not be morally upright as children raised by heterosexuals. The fear stems from religious beliefs that a married couple should be heterosexual. Perception is everything since people act based on how they perceive things; however, perception can also be deceiving. The society blemishes L.G.B.T.Q adoption rights due to perception.

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The History of L.G.B.T.Q Adoption Rights

The history of adoption rights for the diverse genders and sexualities is long, although the most crucial moments only occurred in the last forty years. Adoption by gay people debuted in the 20th century around the time when civil rights movements were the order of the day ("What to Know About the History of Same-Sex Adoption," n.d.). Gay parenting began in World War II, as explained by Rudolph (2017), where there was a denial of child custody from spouses that were gay in times of divorce. In the 1970s, courts became lenient when it came to child custody as lesbian, transgender, and gay parents could keep their children (Rudolph, 2017). However, in some places, courts expected them not to engage in sexual activities or live with partners. It was also in the 1960s and 1970s that the L.G.B.T.Q Rights movement gained momentum in the as people from this group started families (Rudolph, 2017). The first gay person to adopt a child, as stated by (Rudolph 2017) was Bill Jones in 1968. Mr. Jones was gay, single, and a resident of California. Rudolph (2017) also explains that New York was the first state that allowed adoption application regardless of one's sexuality a decade after Bill adopted. In 1979, a couple of the same-sex in California finalized an adoption making history as the first ones to adopt a child (Rudolph, 2017) formally. New Jersey in 1997 was number one to allow adoption by same-sex couples. The year 2010 marked Florida as the last state to lift a ban on gay couple adoption (Rudolph, 2017).

Adoption was not the only agenda the queer community fought for when it came to families and children. They perceived it as their right to bear children as well. Rudolph (2017) explains that lesbian couples in the 1970s started families through pregnancy, and the Sperm Bank in California became the first fertility clinic serving lesbian couples in 1982. Before this, however, artificial inseminations had been performed from home for years. 1985 was the year in which second-parent adoption was witnessed (Rudolph, 2017). Second parent adoption indicates permission for a same-sex parent to adopt their partner's child without eliminating the other parent's rights. Second parent adoption does not require one to be married to the partner. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, a decade after the witnessing of second-parent adoption, was the first in American high courts to allow visitation rights to non-biological mothers in case of separation (Rudolph, 2017). Matt Rice gave birth as the U.S. first transgender man in 1999 as California witnessed a British gay couple have children by surrogacy and even allowed their names to be on the birth certificates of their children (Rudolph, 2017).

The gay community draws strength from one another, and hence there exist movements to accelerate the fight for their acknowledgment and rights. Rudolph (2017) elaborates that the Daughters of Bilitis lesbian organization in San Francisco discussed lesbian motherhood initially in 1956. Fifteen years after the lesbian motherhood discussion, an activist group by the name Lesbian Mothers Union arose in line with the rights of motherhood (Rudolph, 2017). Custody disputes became popular among gay couples, and as explained by Rudolph (2017), the Lesbian Mothers National Defense Fund came to being in 1974 as a means of assisting those facing custody battles. Two lawyers in 1977 commenced The Lesbian Rights Projects to help gay parents. The group changed to the National Center for Lesbian Rights (Rudolph, 2017). The year 1979 witnessed the launch of the Gay Fathers Coalition, which evolved into the Family Equality Council. This organization represented same-sex parents nationally, giving rise to a program for children of these parents that in 1999 became C.O.L.A.G.E (Rudolph, 2017).

The queer community not only fought for justice as parents but also publicized their efforts for the society to see them in a new light. Rudolph (2017), describes the media as an important aspect of the L.G.B.T.Q movements since forty years ago. A movie in 1972 about a gay father that came out to his teenage son called That Certain Summer was the first in L.G.B.T.Q parents' depiction (Rudolph, 2017). Homosexuals also advocated marriage equality in recent decades to allow gay couples to adopt, especially in states that previously did not allow unmarried couples to adopt. The new millennium brought good tidings for gay adoption, especially in 2015, when one of the U.S. Supreme Courts legalized same-sex matrimony. It was a win for those who wanted to adopt. Religious freedom bills still pose a challenge as they allow discrimination of gay people by religious-founded agencies. However, the fight has been worth it as they can now have families without interference ("What to Know About the History of Same-Sex Adoption," n.d.).

Current Issues relating to L.G.B.T.Q. Adoption Rights

Stigmatization

Disapproving of people or regarding people as disgraceful is a common practice in our society today. The L.G.B.T.Q is among members of the society who are much disliked. Rapaport (2019) explains that although gay couple parenting is popular in America, a lot of gay men and their families face significant stigmatization from neighbors, relatives, and many more community members. Medical advancements through surrogacy and adoption options have made it easy for gay men to create families. After gay marriage was legalized, it became easier for gay men to become parents as parenting rights were advanced. However, even with such achievements by the diverse genders and sexualities, gay fathers are still stigmatized on the foundation that they are gay. The stigma has driven many gay fathers to avoid situations, as they fear discrimination and mistreatment. It is evident that society still judges their morality and keep pointing fingers at them for destroying specific societal values, norms, and beliefs.

The stigma does affect not only gay men but also the children in their care. Rapaport (2019), explains that children raised by gay fathers would seem to avoid making friends for fear of discrimination and mistreatment from other children. One would think that perhaps after the LGBTQ's earned their place in society, they will have a warm welcome and acceptance. However, this is not the case even in the 21st century, where advancement and recognition in almost everything prevails. The stigma still blocks gays' path to adopting children and creating families.

Discrimination

Cultural, religious, and racial differences are among the top aspects of discrimination in the world. All the mentioned aspects, however, are the main contributing factors of discernment against gays. Taylor (2019) explains that the Trump administration wants to permit adoption and children care agencies to reject gays as appropriate applicants for adoption using religion as a ground. The Trump administration is directly opposing a rule formed during the former president Obama's era that classifies gender identity and sexual orientation among the classes deserving protection from discrimination. Denial of services to the LGBTQs through the childcare and adoption agencies is blatant discrimination that could have severe consequences for many families.

Adoption agencies are not the only platforms for discrimination against gays. The children adopted by gays or part of their families, according to Krakow (n.d.), also face challenges presented by bias. Such children do not enjoy the same rights as other children since some governments do not recognize them and cannot access the same social security services as other children. Many countries on matters concerning gays permit only one parent to have custody of a child, which could prove detrimental to the growing up and mental well-being of the child. Krakow (n.d.) explains that adoptive children of diverse genders and sexualities should face similar social security measures as other children. These children also need protection against violence and discrimination arising because of their parents' sexual backgrounds.

Conclusion

Society blemishes L.G.B.T.Q adoption rights because due to perception when we look at the history of the diverse genders and sexualities adoption rights. Society depicts the beliefs, norms, values, and cultures of people. Each culture has certain beliefs, values, and models; however, they are all driven by perception, and this is why the society we reside in today is simply a product of understanding. The L.G.B.T.Q people represent a portion of the society that has over the years faced stigmatization and discrimination from other members of the community. Religion is one of the main reasons as to why gays keep fighting for justice. When it comes to families, many religious beliefs deem it appropriate that heterosexuals marry for procreation. This is also the reason why religious freedom bills allow for discrimination of gays in terms of adopting children. Apart from religion and culture, fear is another aspect that intensifies the society's perception against gays. The fear that children raised by gay families may become immoral, consumes society, and infringes on gay adoption rights.

I selected this topic since I felt that children, despite their backgrounds or their parentage, should be treated equally. Children have the right to live peacefully and protect from all sorts of discrimination, including discrimination against their same-sex parents. How we perceive and treat these children will determine their future. Society's perception today is ground for tomorrow's advancements, be they good or bad. Society views the L.G.B.T.Q community as one that goes against human nature, and as it judges, it includes children associated with this community. Society does not even spare all the children out there in need of parental and family care. For a better future for the children, the adoption rights for diverse genders and sexualities should be upheld.

References

Krakow, K. (n.d.). Protecting the rights of the L.G.B.T.Q. Child. Humaniun. https://www.humanium.org/en/lgbtq-children/

Rapaport, L. (2019, January 16). Gay fathers face stigma as parents. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-lgbt-gay-dads/gay-fathers-face-stigma-as-parents-idUSKCN1P92TS

Rudolph, D. (2017). A very brief history of L.G.B.T.Q. parenting. Family Equality. https://www.familyequality.org/2017/10/20/a-very-brief-history-of-lgbtq-parenting/

Taylor, D. B. (2019, November 2). Adoption Groups Could Turn Away L.G.B.T. Families Unde...