|
[Since the Republicans have gone out on something of a limb over this issue, I'm surprized we haven't seen their usual apologists in this thread yet.]
I'm in two minds about the adoption side of this. I know that "normal" families are a lottery for kids. In any case, when you see great kids and total screw-ups coming from the same families, it makes you wonder just how much influence parents have in the first place.
But except in extreme circumstances there isn't a whole lot we can do about what happens to kids who are brought up by one or more of their parents. Whereas the state (via adoption laws) does have the ability (and the duty) to make choices. At the very least, children adopted into relationships that society still doesn't consider normal, are going to suffer more than the usual cruelty from their peers.
I don't pretend to have the first idea whether they may suffer in other ways. But that is the point. Rather than being primarily concerned with the rights of gay adults, shouldn't a decision on this issue be postponed until there are some solid stats as to whether children brought up in gay families suffer more or fewer problems than other children? There must be enough children being brought up by a natural parents who have moved into gay relationships to make such a study possible [I assume no such study has been done, because if it had, we wouldn't still be arguing theory].
|