Monday, March 13, 2006

Taking care of the orphan

The Washington Post ran an article in Sunday's paper titled, "Why Courts Are Adopting Gay Parenting", detailing the latest assault on sexual minorities: attempts in nine states to ban adoptions by people who are gay or lesbian.

There are nearly three quarters of a million children in the United States waiting to be adopted or in foster care. Those working for these adoption bans irresponsibly and inaccurately claim that children are hurt by living with two same sex parents, and therefore, children will remain within the foster care system rather than go to loving families, where the adults happen to be gay. They say they are acting out of their religious beliefs.

Scripture calls us to take care of the widow and the orphan in dozens of passages; for example, Exodus 22:21 says, "You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan." So, here's my proposal to the religous right on this one: before you can gather one more name on your petitions to ban adoptions by a gay person, file to adopt a child. Become a foster parent. Make sure that every child in this country has a home. Then, and only then, can you begin to acting morally.

P.S. Let's nip the use of the term "gay parenting" in the bud. I don't do "straight parenting." Parents who are gay and lesbian don't "gay parent"; they parent with love and struggles, just like the rest of us. Who we are sexually attracted to or involved with doesn't really enter into it.

1 comment:

Bree Sprankle said...

What the religious right is saying is that the instability of the foster care system is much better for a child than being around a same-sex, loving couple.

Is the media asking these opposing groups what their fears are? Do they believe that every gay household looks like a gay pride parade? If so, they better start introducing legislation that bans Irish couples from adopting because I know what goes on during the St. Patrick's Day Parade.