LGBT Adoptions Issue

LGBT Adoption

LGBT adoption is the procedure by which members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community adopt children through formal legal processes. Most countries’ legal systems have been divided over this form of adoption; such practices are not permitted. (Ross 254). Due to the intense public scrutiny and worry generated by these controversies, some states have changed their laws to permit adoption. Like many other couples, the LGBT community has parenting desires that lead them to pursue adoption, claim Courtney and Flynn (p. 1). The “Congressional Coalition Adoption Institute” reports that more than 390000 children do not have permanent families, 101600 of whom meet the eligibility for adoption (Courtney and Flynn 1). While LGBT adoption remains a national concern, the issue is taken lightly as only the state laws can determine whether or not gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals can adopt young ones. The examination of LGBT adoption issues using the film Any Day Now is this research’s key purpose.

Thesis

The issues revolving around LGBT adoptions and the impacts of same-sex marriage on the adopted child’s mental and physical wellbeing are crucial and must be handled with the seriousness that they deserve. Public scrutiny and stereotyping are the key issues barring the public, government, and judicial system from researching the suitability of gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals as foster parents.

Any Day Now

Movie Summary

The film Any Day Now is a drama that is based on a true story that highlights the difficulties undergone by gay parents in getting adoption rights. The movie was directed by Tavis Fine and begins by Rudy Donatello and Paul Fleiger meeting at a gay nightclub. Rudy is a drag performer in the club located in West Hollywood and makes a living through music (Fine). On returning home one night, Rudy finds a 14-year-old Marco who suffers from Down Syndrome near his residence. Marco had been abandoned by the mother who had been arrested earlier on. Rudy who is gay takes up the boy, but the US family services does not take this action lightly. Marco is grabbed and taken to a foster home where he spends some few days. Paul, a distinguished attorney, is approached by Rudy who tells him about his plans regarding adopting the child and their efforts are thwarted (Fine). Although Marco’s mother signs a temporary guardianship letter indicating that Rudy and Paul can adopt the child while she is in prison, the couple’s last hope is dimmed when she is released, and the court is forced to give her custody despite her unsocial lifestyle. Marco was forcefully taken to live with the mother despite his objection. The mother returned to her previous life of having sexual relationships with many partners; a lifestyle that led to neglect resulting in Marco’s death. In the end, Paul writes a letter obtaining Marco’s obituary and describing the mistakes that led to the untimely demise of the young boy (Fine).

Analysis

Paul and Rudy’s story is an illustration of the various discriminatory issues that LGBT face during the child adoption process. The couple’s desire to adopt a child was ignited by Marco’s neglect. Through the film, it is manifest that gays have the potential of taking excellent care of homeless children. For instance, Marco is not pleased with going back to her mother’s home because she could not offer the same degree of love and care as Rudy. When the judge rules that Marianna had Marco’s custody, the fourteen-year-old boy was heard saying ”this is not my home, this is not my home.“

The second event supporting the eligibility of gay couples as foster parents as portrayed in the film are the activities that Rudy and Paul ensured that Marco attended. While Marco’s mother Marianna had the time and ability to take him to social events, the young boy was secluded or isolated from the society because of his mental status (Fine). Rudy saved the meager resources earned from drag performance and invested it in Marco’s happiness. Thirdly, the struggles that Rudy and Paul undergo to adopt Marco illustrate their eligibility for adoption. Most LGBTs have to undergo legal and social battles to prove their suitability for parenthood. According to Courtney and Flynn (p.4), the society is always reluctant to accept the fact that gay parents are good parents and if not excellent guardians of a child. Paul and Rudy were better parents than Marco’s biological mother, Marianna, who valued her self-interests over her son’s wellbeing. The society has also set standards for the fourteen-year-old mentally ill young man as nobody wants to associate with him. Rudy and Paul beat all odds to provide food, shelter and parental love to the young boy. The couple’s struggle to adopt Marco is also seen whereby Paul asks Rudy to consider him as a cousin in the presence of other persons, failure of which might hinder their efforts for adoption. Carmela (p.3) states that adoption issues lead to the split of most same-sex parents and other unions later on. Most individuals have to forego their aspirations and sexual orientations just to adopt a young one.

Any Day Now also illustrates the negative implications of gay marriage on children. Despite the couple’s ability to provide Marco with basic needs, Paul and Rudy place the 14-year-old in a situation that he has never witnessed. Marco is used to having a female for a mother while the new parents are all males.

Consequences of LGBT Adoption

The stereotypes developed by the society regarding the LGBT has frustrated the efforts of most researchers to examine the typical child environments of the young people adopted by same-sex parents (Ross 256). However, the pieces of evidence presented in court cases such as Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 have been beneficial in evaluating the competence of gay couples in taking perfect care for the children that they adopt.

Positive

The key positive implication of LGBT adoption is that it helps reduce the number of unwanted children in foster homes (Ross 256). According to the film, nobody other than Paul and Rudy was willing to adopt Marco. There exist many children in foster homes who do not qualify for adoption or are eligible, but no one can embrace them. Therefore, LGBT adoption would help reduce the magnitude of the population of unwanted children in these facilities.

Secondly, according to Carmela (p.4), gay families have several common features with the traditional families. The author provides an example of Milanos whose gay foster parents are supportive and dedicated. Paul and Ruby from the movies are also caring parents who want the best for Marcos more than the child’s biological mother. Therefore, LGBT adoption provides children with equal opportunities for love and prosperity just like their original families. The third advantage of LGBT adoption is that it promotes equality (Lavner, Waterman, and Peplau, 46). Same-sex couples pay taxes just like other individuals and should also be entitled to similar entitlements. Therefore, allowing the LBGT population to adopt young ones would promote equality while reducing discrimination.

Negative

The primary con of LGBT adoption is that it predisposes children to psychological stigma (Ross 266). The clergy and other anti-gay crusaders claim that the children growing up in gay relationships are prone to psychological torture whenever they socialize with their colleagues in schools and other social places. Secondly, the insecurity and lack of stability of gay relationships are higher than that of traditional families (Lavner, Waterman, and Peplau, 46). Therefore, children growing in these environments might not get the necessary love and attention that is crucial for their growth. The instability of such relationships can be witnessed in the film Any Day Now when Paul volunteers to quit the relationship and pave way for Marco’s adoption.

Conclusion

In summary, the issues revolving around LGBT adoptions and the impacts of same-sex marriage on the adopted child’s mental and physical wellbeing are crucial and must be handled with the seriousness that they deserve. Public scrutiny and stereotyping are the key issues barring the public, government, and judicial system from researching the suitability of gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals as foster parents. Any Day Now depicts an ideal gay relationship and the struggles that LGBTs go through during the adoption process. Some key pros of this type of adoption include its ability to reduce the number of unwanted children in foster homes, resemblance to traditional families and the fact that LGBT adoption promotes equality. However, LGBT adoption predisposes children to psychological stigma while its instability makes it hard for children to get proper parental care.

Works Cited

Carmela Sioco, Maria. ”Gay Adoption Should Be Permitted.” Child Custody. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print

Courtney, Farrell, and Simone Isadora Flynn. ”Gay & Lesbian Adoption: An Overview.“ Points Of View: Gay & Lesbian Adoption, 2016, pp. 1-1. Print

Fine, Travis, director. ”Any Day Now.“ Music Box Films, 2012. Film.

Lavner, Justin A., Jill Waterman, and Letitia Anne Peplau. ”Parent Adjustment Over Time In Gay, Lesbian, And Heterosexual Parent Families Adopting From Foster Care..“ American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry, vol 84, no. 1, 2014, pp. 46-53. American Psychological Association (APA), doi:10.1037/h0098853. Print

Ross, Lori, Rachel Epstein, Corrie Goldfinger, Leah Steele, Scott Anderson, and Carol Strike. ”Lesbian and queer mothers navigating the adoption system: The impacts on mental health.“ Health Sociology Review vol.17, no.3 (2008): 254-266. Print

One Page Summary

The issues revolving around LGBT adoptions and the impacts of same-sex marriage on the adopted child’s mental and physical wellbeing are crucial and must be handled with the seriousness that they deserve. Public scrutiny and stereotyping are the key issues barring the public, government, and judicial system from researching the suitability of gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals as foster parents. The examination of LGBT adoption issues using the film Any Day Now is this research’s key purpose. The film Any Day Now is a drama that is based on a true story that highlights the difficulties undergone by gay parents in getting adoption rights. Any Day Now depicts an ideal gay relationship and the struggles that LGBTs go through during the adoption process. The second event supporting the eligibility of gay couples as foster parents as portrayed in the film are the activities that Rudy and Paul ensured that Marco attended. Any Day Now also illustrates the negative implications of gay marriage on the children. Despite the couple’s ability to provide Marco with basic needs, Paul and Rudy place the 14-year-old in a situation that he has never witnessed.

The stereotypes developed by the society regarding the LGBT has frustrated the efforts of most researchers to examine the typical child environments of the young people adopted by same-sex parents. Some key pros of this type of adoption include its ability to reduce the number of unwanted children in foster homes, resemblance to traditional families and the fact that LGBT adoption promotes equality. However, LGBT adoption predisposes children to psychological stigma while its instability makes it hard for children to get proper parental care.