Emily Overby (FGCU) GLBT Adoption

State of Florida Prohibition of GLBT Adoption 

                   In the state of Florida the prohibition of GLBT adoption can be looked at in many sociologically factors due the major issue of segregation. According to SouthFlordia.com “Prohibiting GLB individuals and same-sex couples from adopting means that 165 children must remain in foster care or must have alternative adoptive homes recruited for them. As a result, we estimate that the ban costs the State of Florida over $2.5 million in per year.”

            The issue of the prohibition in Florida against GLBT adopting children is an issue of the state to create stability in adoption rules and those who are against it to show that there is instability or biases in our government. The government creating such exclusion on those who are able to adopt is creating what they believe to be a stable environment for the children who are up for adoption. However, those who are against this ban could argue that the issue is creating an unstable social environment where segregation is prohibited by the government which could lead to more exclusion in other areas. If this is allowed to happen what will the GLBT community not be allowed to do next.

            The current culture of the United States on this issue is more likely to be considered a mutual split between pro GLBT and con GLBT. From what I have seen of this issue one extreme belief on this issue is based around religious views and how GLBT relationships are strictly a no therefore these beliefs leak into personal and governmental views. On the other hand, isn’t it our country based on the system of the separation of church and state therefore there should be no laws based or even relevantly considered around these views. All people are equal. A third point that I see in this issue is the idea that this child is under the protection of the state and putting them into the hands of a GLBT person or couple could lead to them receiving public ridicule that a child doesn’t deserve to receive. The government cannot change our culture and how certain peopl view the GLBT community.

             Humans have a basic norm of values. I would classify this as every individual has their values that have them treat other people of different values, beliefs, or views either in a positive or negative way. Human values could be based on compassion or understanding for people who are different from them. In contrast other people base their norm of values on differencing views is taken as offensive or a threat to their own norm of values. When it comes to GLBT adopting a person’s norms and values will create their view on this issue.

                          Social change is inevitable and slowly but surely a social change is becoming prominent in the GLBT community. According to Human Rights Campaign and their list of adoption laws a majority of states allow single GLBT individuals to adopt while for GLBT couple there is no prohibition against them petitioning as well.  Over the past decade the amount of socially ‘out’ or publicly open GLBT has increased tremendously. There has become less and less social negativity for being openly gay or lesbian. There is still a long way to go however we are in the midst of a social change pertaining to this issue.

                     The GLBT is considered a one of the major minority group but many people could not consider them one because it does not deal with race. Social integration can be defined as “members of the minority groups that gain full access to the opportunities, rights and services available to the members of the mainstream.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_integration) GLBT community has not received full integration which is the issue pertaining to Florida and other states who do not allow them to adopt.

http://southflorida.sun-sentinel.com/live/wsfl-talker-4-24-cost-adoption,0,2769824.storyhttp://www.hrc.org/issues/parenting/adoptions/8464.htm

This entry was posted on 26. April 2010 at 08:13 and is filed under Introduction to Sociology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.