According to Adoption.com, 21 states and the District of Columbia are open to homosexual couples adopting children. By adopting, gay parents provide a family unit for an orphaned or disadvantaged child. Adoption by homosexual couples is still somewhat controversial, as evidenced by the fact that some states still put road blocks in front of gay families. There are a number of positive effects that this practice demonstrates, to both the child and society.
Stable Family Unit
Raising a child in a two-parent environment has been shown to positively affect the child's growth and development. A study published by the Child Trends Data Bank found that children of two-parent families are more likely to exhibit behavioral self control than those living in a one-parent household. The two-parent child is statistically more likely to score higher marks throughout his education and display less behavioral problems.
A Normal Upbringing
A study published by the American Sociological Review found that the adopted children of gay couples grow into well-adjusted individuals. The study found that there were no differences in the personalities between children raised by gay couples and those raised by heterosexual couples. The children of gay couples are no more likely to identify as homosexuals than the children of heterosexual couples.
Saving Money on Foster Care
According to a study conducted by the Evan B. Donaldson adoption Institute, allowing homosexual couples to adopt children lessens the strain on the nation's foster care network and saves a significant amount of money. In 2008, there were 129,000 children in foster care. Allowing gay adoption places these children in loving homes, saving between $87 and $130 million that would otherwise be spent on foster care.
Increasing the Adoption Pool
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are many more children that need to be adopted than there are families willing to adopt them. By promoting adoption by gay families, thousands of children that would have languished in the foster care system are being placed into loving homes.
