Please can i have your opinion :)

[DaniellaC]

Hello everybody
As part of my science coursework we have to pick a subject to do a debate on and i have chosen "Should same-sex couples be able to adopt children?" As part of the project we have to include other peoples opinions on the subject and i thought here would be a great place to ask. So if you have an opinion on the subject and wouldnt mind if i included it in my project it would be really helpful
TIA Dani

Surely that's more of an ethics/humanities debate than science?

Not part of a same sex couple or adopting but do not see there is anything wrong with same sex couples adopting any child as long as they can provide them with a stable and loving upbringing. Regardless of sex it is down the whether or not the individuals involved would make ideal parents. I have a couple of friends in same sex relationships raising children. One couple are raising there own children from prior marriages and another couple of friends have adopted a little girl that they were fostering. They and their children are extremely happy and in my opinion that is all that matters. Good lukc with your debate

liquidclocks I did just think that.

Liquidclocks-I know but it was one of the examples in the workbook and i feel strongly on the subject so thought it would be quite easy
Nemo1977-Thank you

Agree with Nemo.

A child needs love and support, and if that comes from something other that a conventional family environment, who cares? That the child has a stable and loving environment to grow and flourish in is enough.

my understanding of the current position (might be wrong)is that lesbian / gay / bi sexual people can adopt as individuals (and may even be in a couple) but they cannot adopt as a couple - so one of the partners will have no legal rights / responsibilities. In that sense there is a baisc equality issue as heterosexuals can adopt as a couple. i also agree with everything nemo says.

Like others so far I think a person's sexuality doesn't affect their ability to be a good and loving parent, and if they pass the usual adoption tests, they should be on an equal footing with straight couples.

However, MN is a nest of lefty liberals like me, and I don't actually think it is representative of the population as a whole; quite a lot of older people may be against it, for example. (not being ageist but I mean more traditional attitudes).

Maybe you could try to find a couple of gallup polls or surveys on the net, just out of interest and to back up your coursework, which show what people think on the subject on a broader basis.. I bet there's quite a lot of interesting stuff on it out there.

I agree with gemmitygem...if you were to ask my husbands parents[very strict old fashioned catholics in their 60s] their opinion would be completely different.

I would also try to get the opinion of single sex couples, you may be suprised of the responce.

My brother states very firmly that he doesn't agree with it and would never ever consider it, no matter how much he loves children.

i would class myself as a lefty lineral, but when i did some child development study (many years ago) there was research which indicated that children benefit from having both male & female role models - it was a bit controversial as it implied that even a bad father was better than no father!
surely that has implications about single sex parenting?
sorry, can't remember what the research was, and my notes went into the bin a long time ago, but it was done mid 90s, and could, of course be some hugely biased attempt to lower the divorce rate, but studies like that would surely be relevant

I have no problems whatsoever with same sex adoption, however my gay male friend is a trainee primary teacher and hugely against it (or was at christmas), if you CAT me I may be able to put you in touch?

Another friend gay lesbian is seriously considering it (though she wouldn't discuss- not very out) so seems to be one on which views vary

I didn't get do anything like that in science - most 'debateful' we were allowed to get was to write an essy regarding creationism versus evolution.

My personal opinion is that a same sex couple is just as underqualified for parenting as those of us in more traditional relationships. The importnt thing for the child is to have a parent/parents who love them unconditionally, would never do anything to deliberately harm them and does their best to be a good support and role model for them.