Maybe Baby (Part 2)

The grounds for refusing to adopt based on sexuality are strongly being eroded

*The most fundamental thing a child needs is to be brought up in a loving and caring home. I doubt anybody would disagree. So why should this view depend upon the parents being a different sex? *

As long as two people can give a child a loving home, it surely should not matter what sex and sexuality they are. At the end of the day, children have to be put first. It seems ludicrous that competent gay couples are denied the right to adopt. In many people’s opinion, the arguments against gays adopting hold little strength. The argument that children will be denied female or male role models is flawed, especially with the existence of many lone parents managing to bring up children. Others advocate that it will result in the child being bullied, when the fact remains that children are bullied for all things in life that are unforeseeable.

The grounds for refusing to adopt based on sexuality are strongly being eroded in steps. The Government, who are forcing Catholic Adoption agencies to allow gay couples to adopt, or simply close if not. It is inconceivable that discrimination can still exist and be accepted in today’s society, especially by using religion to back it up. I totally respect that people have religious beliefs, but religion has to adapt to modern societal change, like so many other institutions have, or face the consequences. It has adapted to subjects such as divorce, re-marriage and abortion so why not gay rights? The wishes of such adoption agencies should not be elevated above the rest of society. It is interesting that such organisations think that it would be so awful for a child to have two loving mothers or two loving fathers, but encourage unprotected sex that leads to over-population in the first place, making it increasingly likely that more and more children will be born to teenage mothers who have not left school yet.

Ironically, being refused to adopt has led to greater steps towards gay rights. Gay couple Tony and Barry Drewitt-Barlow were refused adoption rights on grounds of being gay. They were told, by the adoption panel, they were not allowed a ‘normal’ child but children with special needs were acceptable. After taking various courses for caring for children with special needs they were adamantly refused. Facing yet another refusal the couple went on to have children via IVF and a surrogate mother. Twins were born with the girl Saffron having Barrie as her biological father and the boy Aspen with Tony as his. Consequently, this couple made head-way in the being the first gay couple legally deemed parent one and two on their birth certificate. These dads have ensured they give their children the best life possible with female role models in the form of nannies when young, and regular visits from their surrogate mother. Selling up their successful business and retiring in their thirties, their children are treated lavishly with everything they need, but most importantly – love.