America is supposedly the land of the free, but how are we free when there are people across the nation having their rights denied. Multiple states in the country ban gays and lesbians from adopting children. It should be that, as long as someone, no matter their sexual orientation, is ready to be a parent and be able to take care of a child, they should not be denied their human rights to adopt a child. There are just too many children without loving homes. According to the most recent "Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System" report, there were about 406,412 children in foster care in the United States in 2010 (AFCARS). One reason why homosexuals are denied their rights to adopt is because many people are prejudice and believe
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The term "any other status" assumedly includes sexual orientation. But we still deny these rights to homosexuals. It is a basic human right to get married and have children.
Questioning if someone could adopt a child, just because of their sexual orientation should not be happening when there are hundreds of thousands of children without homes with parents in the first place. This number could be largely decreased by allowing homosexuals and same-sex couples to adopt children. The fact is, there is a lack of new adoptive parents. Gay parents can already be foster parents for children, but adoption would confirm the legal rights of the gay couple.
Since 1994, United States federal law has prohibited “denying prospective adoptive or foster parents the opportunity to adopt or foster children based on race, color or national origin” (HHC). However, no federal legislature stops the discrimination based on sexual preference of prospective adoptive parents. Determining the parenting rights is made on a "case-by-case basis" and it is judge's decision whether to grant the adoption petition (Human Rights Campaign). There are only 16 states that allow same-sex couples to jointly petition for adoption ("LGBT Adoption
The term "any other status" assumedly includes sexual orientation. But we still deny these rights to homosexuals. It is a basic human right to get married and have children.
Questioning if someone could adopt a child, just because of their sexual orientation should not be happening when there are hundreds of thousands of children without homes with parents in the first place. This number could be largely decreased by allowing homosexuals and same-sex couples to adopt children. The fact is, there is a lack of new adoptive parents. Gay parents can already be foster parents for children, but adoption would confirm the legal rights of the gay couple.
Since 1994, United States federal law has prohibited “denying prospective adoptive or foster parents the opportunity to adopt or foster children based on race, color or national origin” (HHC). However, no federal legislature stops the discrimination based on sexual preference of prospective adoptive parents. Determining the parenting rights is made on a "case-by-case basis" and it is judge's decision whether to grant the adoption petition (Human Rights Campaign). There are only 16 states that allow same-sex couples to jointly petition for adoption ("LGBT Adoption