Take a stand against adoption discrimination

Take a stand against adoption discrimination

Amidst a growing number of submissions arguing against the removal of same-sex discrimination in adoption, the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby is urging the GLBT community and supporters to make a submission to the NSW Inquiry into Adoption by Same Sex Couples.

The closing date for submissions is this Friday, 13 February 2009.

The GLRL has been empowering same-sex families and couples with stories of discrimination to write their own powerful submissions to the inquiry. But these kids, families and couples now need everyone’s support, said Emily Gray, Convenor of the GLRL.

With media attention and a broad spectrum of political views, it can be extremely intimidating for the families most affected by discrimination to speak up for equal rights. By making a short submission, every member of the GLBT community can do their part in supporting equality and giving a boost to these brave kids, parents and couples.

The GLRL has been working extensively on its own submission which argues for the:

* The removal of all discrimination against same-sex couples in the Adoption Act
* The insertion of a new provision which will allow a same-sex partner to adopt their partner’s child where the existing parent(s) consent, and
* The consideration of how best to legally recognise families with more than two parents.

Our submission emphasises that adoption reform furthers the best interests of children and is consistent with child welfare and human rights principles. Denying children the legal recognition of their parents means kids could miss out on a host of entitlements and legal protections, such as inheritance rights and child support, added Gray.

On the issue of adopting unrelated children, we are saying that same-sex couples should be judged on their individual merits, like all other couples and individuals. It is their ability to provide a stable and loving home to a child which should be judged, not their sexual orientation.

Submissions to the adoption inquiry can be submitted via email ([email protected]). Submissions must be received by 13 February 2009 and can be as long or as short as you like. Personal stories are encouraged.

Some talking points for submissions may include:

* All the credible research confirms that children are not disadvantaged by having lesbian and gay parents.

* Discrimination against same-sex couples hurts children with gay and lesbian parents by denying legal and social recognition to their families. Legal recognition would give same-sex parents the power to consent to medical treatment for their child, sign permission notes and exercise parental authority without question or the need for court orders. Children can also miss out on inheritance entitlements.

* It makes no sense to allow individual lesbians and gay men to apply for adoption, but not same-sex couples.

* Same-sex couples have been actively recruited for many years, and provide wonderful foster care for children in need.

* Discrimination against gays and lesbians in adoption law perpetuates hurtful myths that lesbians and gay men pose a risk to children. This reflects unfairly on the valuable contributions of many same-sex parents, and all lesbians and gay men who work with children as teachers, youth workers and carers.

* Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory have same-sex adoption equality. Tasmania also allows same-sex couples to adopt a partner’s child.

* Since 1999, NSW has progressively removed all discrimination against same-sex couples -“ adoption being the last significant area of discrimination.

A sample submission can be downloaded from the Lobby’s website.

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20 responses to “Take a stand against adoption discrimination”

  1. it is abnormal to be gay, because if god wanted people to be gay he would have created Adam and steve, not adam and eve.

  2. Im writing in an attempt to gain more knowledge for a college paper. Im having alot of trouble finding discrimination against gay and lesbian adopted parents. I know for a fact that they are being discriminated against in the adoption process, but i need to find some articles to prove it. If anyone could point me in the right direction with some links it would be greatly appreiciated.

    Please send them to [email protected]

    My View: In my opinion whether the child has one mother and one father or parents of the same gender, it doesn’t matter the only thing that truly matters is that the child is loved unconditionally. The arguement of being unnatural is pathetic. The other arguement about gays and lesbians wanted the same rights as straight people is completely fair. Gay and lesbians have the right to live like heterosexual people because in the end we are all people.

    What we all must remember gay lesbaian or straight we are all people first and deserve equal rights and treatment.

  3. James, it’s not “the gay lifestyle”, it’s just that we are sexually/emotionally attracted to members of the same gender. Beyond that, our “lifestyles” are just as diverse as straight hetero lifestyles. Some straights like being single, some gays like being single, some straights like sleeping around, some gays like sleeping around, some straights want to fall in love & get married, some gays want to fall in love & get married. Get it? Forget the church/hate doctrine of “lifestyle”, & you’ll have the penny drop…… that gays are just as diverse as straights.

  4. I doubt many people here want to be particularly like you, James ;)

    Gay is not a “lifestyle”. First and foremost, it is an intrinsic sexual orientation. Seems weird to me that a heterosexual person should feel so threatened by that, to the extent you would flaunt your bigotry at length on a gay press website. Then again, maybe there is more than a kernel of truth in the joke that homophobia is “insecurity at being straight”.

    Everyone just wants to be treated fairly by the law and have the free choice of having their loving relationship treated equally under the law. Most Aussies these days would find nothing onerous or remarkable about that. The real eyebrow-raiser is the people that still do.

  5. Seems weird to me that gay people want to be just like straight people in every way possible. They want to be treated the same under every single piece of legislation, they want to be able to get married (I mean to each other, they can still get married under current legislation), they want to be able to have children (albeit through artificial means even though they can probably conceive naturally), they want to be able to adopt children, they want changes to birth certificates so a kid can have to mothers, they want to be treated like a (heterosexual) family in every way possible. Blimey, if they gay lifestyle is so good and you guys are so proud, why do you want to be like me?

  6. “against nature” is the argument Nick first put forward. In fact same gender couplings have been recored in over 450 species of “nature”, some for life as Rob rightly pointed out. Then Nick just backflipped with a flippant reference to comparing to animals- can’t have it both ways Nick.
    I too sense a closet case, who’ll we’ll catch at the Shift in a few years time, and maybe at Mardi Gras a few years after that when he settles down with a boyfriend. Religion is unnatural. And as for the bible, it has been edited so many times, by early evil popes, that people would be surprised to learn than the bible actually promoted reincarnation.
    Plus, while we’re on the bible- it was used extensively to promote & endorse slavery. Just as the bible’s justification for promoting slavery is now finally on the nose, so will it’s promotion of homophobia.

  7. So IVF, sperm donors and surrogates are all not “normal” and not “natural”?? Or only when applied to homosexuals?

    you either think that IVF etc is wrong and unnatural for everyone, or you are a simple bigot.

    And what about adoption? what about the need for Child Protection authoroties and laws? Do you really think heterosexuals have the “good parents” market cornered?

  8. John – when a heterosexual couple cannot conceive it’s because there is something wrong, not because they have the wrong equipment. You argument is pointless.

    Not sure about your glasshouses comment.

  9. In 2009, lets finally repeal all discrimination in every single NSW Statutes and Acts finally for good!!! – Including the Adoption Act 2000 No 75.

  10. Why the need for sperm donors and adoption?

    The same could be said for the thousands of heterosexuals who have used IVF treatment and surrogate mothers.

    As for adoption, that ritual has been around for eons. It’s mainly been needed when incompetent heterosexuals can’t take care of their children due to neglect and abuse.

    James, you really shouldn’t throw stones in glasshouses.

  11. Seriously, if homosexuality was “normal” and “natural” why the need for sperm donors and adoption? Two women or two men would be able to procreate without external assistance.

  12. Nick, honestly why are you trawling the internet searching for gay websites? Let me guess it’s “research”. See you at the Shift in a couple of years time!

  13. Nick, define “normal”.

    Is it “normal” for someone that detests homosexuality so much to be trawling the internet reading gay and lesbian websites?

    If homosexuality is “against what is natural”, how then do you compare it to the numerous accounts of same-sex pairings within other animal species – many for life? This occurs in nature, and by defnition must therefore be natural – by extension homosexuality is accordingly natural.

    Or does it just go against what you’ve read in an old book of fictional stories?

  14. That’s right John, twist my words just like you and your kind twist everything else. Your world is morally dead.

  15. I agree with Nick.

    Unconditional love is real love.

    Love with conditions attached (like you must not have the same genitalia as me) is a perversion and against what is natural.

  16. “All love is equal” – No it’s not. One type of love is normal, natural, the other is a perversion and against what is natural.

    N.