The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, in a recent survey,said about 60 percent of U.S. adoption agencies will now acceptapplications from gays and lesbians — 60 percent.
We should not be satisfied with that.
The remaining agencies are unnecessarily limiting the pool ofpotential parents for children who need and deserve a home. Besidesmisinformation, unfounded fear or stubborn righteousness, no reasonprohibits gays from adopting.
The issue might be entrenched in the broader, stickier debateover same-sex marriages, but orientation has nothing to do with theability to be a loving, providing and capable parent. Those whobelieve every adoption agency should allow gays and lesbians toapply should continue to push agency directors -- through letters,telephone calls, public protests or otherwise -- to open its doorsto another willing, able segment of society.
Still, an unconvinced women's organization, Concerned Women forAmerica, wrote recently that gay partners are unable to provide thestability that married, heterosexual couples give, according to anAssociated Press Report. That's because no heterosexual couplesdivorce. No heterosexual couples are accused of child abuse orneglect. No heterosexual couples fail their children.
It is foolish and impossible to suggest successful child-rearingdepends on a parent's orientation.
But even if 60 percent is low, progress is progress. In thereport, Adam Pertman, the executive director of the institute,said, "We started out near zero, and just within the last decadewe're up to 60 percent."
During this PROUD Week at Ball State, students can relate thisexample to the country's changing attitudes toward homosexuality.America should not be at 60 percent, but it's a start.
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