Nontraditional Families - Essay Example

To begin with, non-traditional families are not entirely accepted in the first place; recognizing their adoption rights is an even bigger step. Therefore, this makes the following question a critical and an important one: Should Non-traditional families (including same sex, gay/lesbian couples) be allowed to adopt children Deciding whether or not non-traditional families should be allowed to adopt children is not a simple process. For example, consider a bisexual/homosexual parent, who is the biological father of a child.

This parent may divorce his opposite sex spouse and take up living with another male partner. This does not change the fact that father is the biological parent, and that he has his rights to remain in touch with and look after his child. In cases where the divorce opposite sex spouse is incapable of looking after the child, there is little choice but for the child to live with his or her bisexual/homosexual male parent. Also, given that there are a number of people who live together as unmarried couples [heterosexual or homosexual] it is difficult to determine who should and who should not have the right to adopt (Waite, 1995, 483-507).

Some states like Florida, for instance, pushed for married couples alone to have the right to adopt children, and this automatically meant that cohabiting couples and homosexual couples would not be able to adopt children. However, it appears that there is more emphasis now on banning homosexual couples as well as individuals from adopting children.Florida law had forbidden adoption by any "homosexual" person. [1977 Fla. Laws, ch. 77-140, 1, Fla. Stat. 63.042(3) (2002)]2. Loften challenged this law, and argued that homosexuals couples were just like unmarried couples [Lofton v.

Secretary of the Dept. of Children & Family Services No. 01-16723 (11th Cir. 01/28/2004)]3. Loften was later omitted from the challenge, primarily on the grounds that Loften was not able to establish particular threats to already existing "family integrity" or "private sexual intimacy."States that Particularly Ban Homosexual Couples from Adopting Children:States that particularly bar homosexual individuals or couples from adopting children include Florida, as one can see from the above case, as well as Oklahoma, Mississippi, Nebraska, Utah and Virginia.

These states have enacted laws that particularly prevent homosexual individuals or couples from adopting children4. Case Reference in Adoption Refusal to Homosexual Parents:Referring to cases similar to Lofton v. Secretary of the Dept. of Children & Family Services, states do not need to determine that homosexual individuals or couples have greater disadvantages on the upbringing of children, as opposed to heterosexual individuals or couples adopting children. It is thought that it is perhaps better to question the rationality of the decision of whether or not to rule in favor of homosexual individuals and couples wanting to adopt children5.

Chances of Developing Married Households:Up till today, it has been widely stressed that it is rational to assert that heterosexual singles have a strikingly higher chance of developing a married household. This is why they are more than likely to provide adopted children with a firm and dual-gender parenting home (Horner, 2002, 472-474). However, it could be argued here that society