Should Gay & Lesbian couples be permitted to serve as Foster Parents?

Question

Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children's psychosocial growth. [Ref. from the American Psychological Association]
And same for the American Academy of Pediatrics and so are the rest of the leading reality-based children's advocacy and wellness organizations in accord.
What can you offer to the topic other than from the bible?

Answer 1

The only criteria for selecting foster parents should be loving care, safety, time and attention, and a sane and sanitary environment. Many gay & lesbian couples or singles can offer such a home.

AND FISH (ABOVE): Any time a parent uses their own sex life as an example in describing the birds and the bees to an elementary school student, they are making an error. The best way to deal with it is talking about biology and loving tenderness, not about tales of conquest or what happens behind your own bedroom door.

Answer 2

As someone who spent ten years in the foster care system, I would have rather had two loving foster parents who would take care of me and happened to be gay than the straight ones I had who were sometimes abusive or neglectful. There are a half million kids in foster care in the US and not enough homes for them, so in my opinion, the opinions of homophobic people who do not foster or adopt do not matter on this subject. In addition, there is a growing trend for parents to throw their kids out of their home if they come out of the closet about being gay. To me, it seems like a foster home with positive gay role models would be a good solution for them, rather than being forced to be on the streets.

Answer 3

Certainly they should.

The criteria for foster parenthood ought to be about the children's safety and well-being, and that has no direct relationship to the foster parents' sexual orientation.

We have the unmitigated joy (sarcasm) of reading about heterosexual foster parents who abuse their charges on a regular basis. So how is it that people assume that heterosexuality is in and of itself a "better" recommendation for foster parenthood than homosexuality?

I imagine that there are people out there who still think that mixed-race couples shouldn't be foster parents, either.

Answer 4

I live in south west Ohio where the big news story is that a local couple killed their foster son. They were selected by a Christian foundation that looked for homes for foster children. It turns out that this Christian foundation failed to report to the state information that they had regarding the parents. Information regarding spousal abuse and child endangerment. The husband even had a criminal record. But let us look at it from the Christian foundation's point of view. At least they were not gay.

Answer 5

They should be let adopt as long as they'll care for the children. Being gay doesnt affect anyone's parenting skills.

Answer 6

I would like to listen in on a young boy and his gay foster parent having their first discussion on sex. Can you imagine what the child thinks when good ole "dad" talks about his sex life. Not a wholesome idea.

I guess Baritone has a good idea. Talk about biology instead of "dad's" own sexual ideas because there are no gays in biology.

Answer 7

I think that they should. People can damage a child being straight or gay .

Answer 8

people with diseases need to get treatment, not children.