Thursday, February 02, 2006

Morning Edition - 2/2/06

Alternative Families; What’s the story?
There are over 542,000 children in foster care in the United States today. Of those, only 24% reside with foster homes that include relatives. Another 48% reside with non-relative foster homes. A resounding 18% live in group homes or institutions. The big question is what constitutes a healthy home environment for these children who no longer live with their biological parents. The conservative view is that gay parents are not equipped to raise children and provide a confusing home environment for young children, while the liberal view is that children would benefit from a loving home environment regardless of the sexual orientation of the parental figure(s). All said, children face foster care for various reasons, but most fall into the system as victims of abuse. Unfortunately, the system itself is not set-up to handle the enormous caseload it now has, so children removed from their abusive homes may find themselves in equally abuse foster families. Black children make up 38% of the cases in foster care, with Whites following at 37% and Latino children at 17%. Also highly disproportionate are the number of black families willing to take on black foster children. This little fact almost guarantees the vicious cycle of the growing number of black children in revolving foster care. Having gay parents posts its own set of challenges. Most of those challenges stem from societal views and ostracism by children who have been taught intolerance to home environments different from their own. A loving gay parental unit plays a greater positive role in the life of a foster child than an abusive straight family. Conversely, no study has proven that children raised by gay parents grow up to be gay themselves; mainly because sexual orientation is not learned. Having gay parents may teach children tolerance and serve to give them a different perspective on what behaviors define a loving couple, but it will never encourage a behavior that isn’t already there. Studies have shown that most gay individuals come from straight family environments. As a responsible society we have to ask ourselves whether it’s more important to maintain the parental unit “norm” or whether giving a child a happy and healthy home warrants us changing our dated views.

Pedophilia and Homosexuality; Danger for Children in Gay Family Environment?
Pedophilia is defined as an adult attraction or perversion to children. Sexual orientation (homosexual or heterosexual) is from one adult to another. A study of 269 cases of children sexually abused by adults found that only 2 of the attackers were gay. Of the other 267 cases, most of the attackers were in heterosexual relationships with either the mother of the abused or another family member. The study concluded that a child has a 100% greater chance of being molested by a relative’s heterosexual partner than by a known homosexual person.

Either They Are or They’re Not; You Can’t Make Them
A 1992 article in Child Development entitled Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents showed that children of gay parents had the same chances of being gay as those raised by heterosexual parents. Further, Psychiatrist Laurintine Fromm of the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital said that all facts show that children of gay parents do not fare any worse than those of heterosexual parents in any area of development – including sexual identity formation.

On Blast
Ignorance is bliss, but the facts are the facts. Is it fair and safer to have children remain in foster care, rather than allowing willing and loving gay parents give stable homes to these children? Are we subjecting children to further psychological abuse by placing them in gay households? What is your view on gay foster care and adoption rights?

Keep passin’ the open windows…

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good morning all. I totally disagree with a child being adopted by gay parents. Yes, foster care is a terrible place to be. However, living a life full of psychological confusion is just as bad if not worse.

How does a child explain that they have two mothers or two fathers? That is just crazy. God never intended for children to be brought up in a home with same sex parents. Isn't that teaching the children that living a life of sin is acceptable? Peer pressure will kill you. Think of the teasing and taunting we went through? Why would you subject a child to more than what they will already go through?

I do agree that a huge misconception is that gay parents abuse their children. As stated, more children are sexually abused by straight parents. To each it’s own. On judgment day, we all will have to answer.

Anonymous said...

Melissa, how can a child be taught morals and values when they see daddy and daddy kissing and hugging? Yes it is showing love but it is showing sinful love. That is not what God intended, I don't care how you word it or try to sweeten it!

Anonymous said...

I have a question...why is there such a huge misconception that gay couples can't be good parents if not better parents than non-gay couples?

Anonymous said...

My God is an awesome God… His all inclusive Love is just that, ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE.
How many times have your earthly parents advised you against a decision you have chosen?
How many times have you made your earthly parent anger and made them throw up their hands at the choices of your actions?
But yet, they still Love you and they have forgiven you more times than you deserve…
Now, why would you think your earthly parents are better than God himself?
So, if you are having a bad season, Jesus ain’t the reason.
God Loves you inside out. He Loved you before you were you and He Loves you before, after and during your transgressions.
Judgment of sin is sin…accepting God’s Holy words as a guide and inspiration to living your life is a personal journey.
And your journey of your own “free will”, your walk with God will be raddled with trials and tribulations but, against no man do you sin, against God and in God’s eyes alone you sin and will be judged by God.
Not man.
J’Moo

Anonymous said...

Children are our most precision commodity on earth. They should be the focus of everything that is gear towards the future. Both of my parents are present and straight, all of my siblings (thus far) are straight but, one never knows what tomorrow holds. I am Gay, with a capital “G”. My son that I have that most contact with is straight, married for the second time and the father of three. A good parent is a good parent and the same goes for a bad parent. It is the world‘s most important job and not everyone is cut out for it. Being a bad or good parent has nothing to do with sexual and it shouldn’t; try to find a difference in your parents and yourself… and see if it made you good or bad.
J'Moo

Unknown said...

Foster care and adoption rights for gays has been spotlighted a lot lately and based on some odd fire-up of the topic yesterday, here we go…
Let me start by saying that many folks are completely in the dark about gays in general. To make it easier to comprehend the orientation – they have the EXACT life goals, concerns, issues, strengths and weaknesses as straight people – PERIOD. They’re human. Children are learning these warped prejudices and biases toward folks different than themselves from adults. That said, from a personal standpoint, you can rest easy Anonymous. I do not want children and barring any God forsaken tragedy, would not go out of my way to take on the responsibility. I believe one of the blessings (and yes, clutch your pearls, I said blessings) of being gay is that I can enjoy my life fully without the fear of bearing children. Fortunately, there are gays who do want children in their lives and can provide a loving, caring and responsible environment complete with good morals to boot. Gays are aware of the ostracism and ridicule that may be inflicted on their children and take great precautions to make the lives on their loved ones as “normal” as possible. One psychologist even suggested gay parents having early conversations with the children about when it is appropriate and inappropriate to discuss their home lives – not because there is something wrong with it, but because not everyone will understand and be supportive. It’s comparative to the children of interracial couples or disabled couples….go figure.
Ultimately, I agree with Winona – either adopt or shut up. A loving home will ALWAYS be more positive for a child than a group home or an abusive straight home. Any straight person that can actually believe that children fair better if in an abusive straight family need to get their head examined. Daddy kissing daddy or mommy kissing mommy is not shocking to the children, since they are accustomed to seeing it on a daily basis. They see straight interactions from other family members and television, so it all balances out. I don’t believe any parental figure should have SEX in front of their children, so save that point of discussion for your therapist or just throw it on your “must-see” list and hope for the best. Here’s the kicker... I was born to and raised by a happily married straight couple, very religious (Christian) household with all the right examples to make me a healthy, red-blooded, snatch-chasing straight man and I’m gay as a fruit basket, while a close friend of mine who was raised by atheist gay parents, is a rough-and-tumble, well-adjusted straight jock, who has two children. Coincidentally, they visit their grand daddies regularly. Ain’t it all a kick in the rubber parts?!

Anonymous said...

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT!!!!!

Good morning all. I totally disagree with a child being adopted by gay parents. Yes, foster care is a terrible place to be. However, living a life full of psychological confusion is just as bad if not worse.

How does a child explain that they have two mothers or two fathers? That is just crazy. God never intended for children to be brought up in a home with same sex parents. Isn't that teaching the children that living a life of sin is acceptable? Peer pressure will kill you. Think of the teasing and taunting we went through? Why would you subject a child to more than what they will already go through?

I do agree that a huge misconception is that gay parents abuse their children. As stated, more children are sexually abused by straight parents. To each it’s own. On judgment day, we all will have to answer.

Unknown said...

The five children I would take FULL custody of in the event of a tragedy are:
Christopher/Daylen &
Bryan, Derrick & Sophia

God save our neighbors, the community at large and their future spouses.

Unknown said...

Just Me….First, I repeat, I don’t WANT children of my own. Second, children watch television and see interactions (both positive and negative) daily. Third, my children (assuming the good Lord arranged it for me to have some) would have every right to see my partner and I in my household environment interact in an appropriate, but loving way. I also have sibling and friends who are straight and my child(ren) would have an opportunity to also see those appropriate interactions.

As far as neutering and spaying humans – you’re f*cking nuts! Although folks should not take bearing and raising children lightly – or leaving the job to others, lightly – we still have to trust that as responsible humans we will make the right decisions. By the way, you do realize that not all children in foster care are there due to negligent or abusive parent(s), don’t you? Some are there due to unfortunate accidents, lack of adequate family support or a good decision by a person who knew they couldn’t raise a child.

I say we INSIST that all those opposed to caring, responsible and willing gay folks providing foster care and adopting children should be FORCED to take two children from the foster care system in show of solidarity and support to the raising of children by straight parents. Put your LIFE where you mouth is.

Anonymous said...

JUST ME'S COMMENTS AS USUAL ARE TOTALLY OBTUSE TO THE ORIGINAL ON BLAST QUESTION, BUT HIS ATTITUDE IS THE VERY REASON WHY PEOPLE REFRAIN FROM ADOPTING. AS COCOARICAN SAID NOT ALL OF THESE KIDS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF NEGLECT OR IRRESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS. THE IDEA IS NOT TO ASSIGN BLAME HERE BUT TO FIND LOVING HOMES GAY OR STRAIGHT) FOR THESE CHILDREN. YOU JUST HAVE TO GO TO THE DYFS WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THOSE HOPEFUL AND ADORABLE FACES OF BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN . I THINK THAT "JUST ME" IS TOTALLY ASSANIME AND UNINTELLIGENT TO SUGGEST SPRAYING AND NUTERING HUMANS. AND I'M SO GLAD FOR OUR SAKE THAT AS HIS NAME SUGGESTS, HE IS JUST..... HE AND HE ALONE

Unknown said...

Just Me,
Thank you… you’ve opened my eyes and have taught by example that maybe abortion isn’t a bad idea. …but seriously folks, although humans are animals, we are the only animal with a sense of reason. This isn’t to say that all will make the right decisions, but we can’t have BIG brother making the decision of what individuals we will select for sterilization. I just don’t think it makes any sense to have a point of view that says – Gays should not be allowed to adopt because they will ruin a child’s life – if you don’t intend to step your heterosexual behind up to the plate to take on the responsibility. It’s like having pedestrians who don’t own cars voting on raising car insurance rates. Put up or shut up.

Anonymous said...

all you homohaters out there can slurp on ma nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why you think so many dudes like to get butt sex from they girls/wives/hoes all that.
Yeah, I thought so.

NEXT QUESTION

Skee-Lo Bee-Lo

Anonymous said...

someone is about to get cut to shreds. call the paramedics and get them on standby stat.

I will slice and dice you and make you a ghost.