The Attitudes To Same-sex Parenting In Different Countries

Being homosexual is still not accepted in the society in which we live in. Homosexuality is proven to have existed since the ancient times, when it was more acceptable, as some people might think. However, many people find homosexal activities and feelings as sins, due to their religious beliefs. Same-sex parenting is another sensitive topic to many, and people have different opinions on if members of the LGBT community should be able to parent and adopt children. People are divided based on their views on this issue as some believe everyone should have a right to adopt children, especially when unable to, while others suppose that children will not get proper care having two moms or two dads. Many people also have mixed feelings about the situation. According to some sources, same sex couples are 4 times more likely to adopt children than regular couples. In this essay I will be writing about different opinions religious and non-religious people have about this topic, and how different countries have managed this issue. I am going to discuss the various beliefs of people about supporting the right of homosexual adoption and how factors like religion, nationality, gender or age influence their opinion on this sensitive topic.

Parental instinct is a natural human instinct, therefore, most people want to have children, although not all are able to. Just as some straight couples who struggle to have children, homosexual partners are unable to produce children biologically. These couples seek to fulfill their maternal and paternal instinct by adopting. While single parent and straight adoption is legalised and encouraged almost everywhere, same-sex adoption is still considered wrong by many people and is illegal in most countries around the world.

For example, in United States gay marriage has been legalised on June 26 2015 and same sex adoption is legal in all 50 states. The decision to legalise same sex couples adopting children in America was made due to most people believing in equality and the right of adopting children. A study was done on this topic to prove how children were not affected negatively by their same sex parents. More than 100 families who adopted children contributed, half of the parents were same sex, including gay and lesbian couples, and other half opposite sex. After a few years, when children reached school age, a Child Behaviour Checklist test was executed and results concluded that “None of the outcome measures showed any difference between families headed by gay versus straight parents.” Other than United States, most parts of the world are ambiguous about this issue, as it is considered a sensitive topic. However, there are a few studies done on same sex adoption and its challenges in Europe. According to Adoption Quarterly, a research done by Roberta Messina and Salvatore D’Amore, Belgian psychologists who focus their work on family studies, main adoption challenges which sexual minorities like homosexuals face are emotional conflicts, self-incertitude and sociolegal obstacles. Same sex couples who want to adopt and become parents have to overcome negative stereotypes about children having two moms or two dads. 

Currently, gay adoption is legal in 17 European countries, a few of which are United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden etc. In Italy, Estonia, Slovenia and Switzerland stepchild adoption is authorised, meaning the partner of a person who has a biological or previously adopted child can adopt the child as their own. Joint adoption by homosexual couples is legal in dependent territories Greenland, Gibraltar, Jersey and Isle of Man. As more countries are legalising same sex adoption, the number of couples adopting children is increasing, although, the exact number of children adopted by gay partners is unknown. Belgium was the second country in the world to legalise gay marriage in 2003, followed by legalising same sex adoption in 2006. It is considered to be one of the most progressive countries in the LGBT rights field. However, regardless of that status, statistics state that there had been a very low number of children adopted by same sex couples. “According to statistics provided by the Directorate General Statistics and Economic Information, a reliable source of Belgium statistics, from 2006 to 2014, only 48 same-sex adoptions were registered out of a total of 6,435 adoptions.” Although, since 2014, the number of same sex adoptions in Belgium is increasing. France legalized same sex marriage and adoption more recently, in 2013. Before the legalisation, the French homosexual couples used to adopt children internationally as single parents. Even though the process of adopting children was now legal, it became even more complex and difficult, resulting in couples going back to the same methods of adoption used before, adopting as a single parent. 

Now married same sex couples had more difficulties in the process, because it is legally impossible to them to adopt internationally. Spain was the third country to legalise same sex marriage and adoption, right after Belgium, in 2005. However, this process is a long and a difficult one, therefore, couples have two options in order to take care of a child, international adoption as single parents or becoming a foster family. In the process of international adoption, in countries where LGBT rights are not present, couples have to take a risk and promise under the law that they are heterosexual and if the countries find out about their homosexuality, the couples will face serious legal problems. In foster family case, the child the same sex couple takes care of will remain in contact with their birth family until the couple can legally adopt the child, however, in some cases they never become able to and child continues to move between the two families.

These all complications happen because most of the world is still not adjusted to this whole issue as it is considered as a sensitive topic. Even in countries where LGBT rights exist, homosexual couples still suffer to get acceptance and have rights just as any other heterosexual couple. This is happening because a lot of countries believe that act of homosexuality is unnatural and should not be accepted and that adopted kids will not live a quality life having two moms or two dads. A lot of people think this because of religious reasons and want to protect the tradition of nation.