Hot Topic (6/24): Adoption by same-sex couples

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

SARASOTA, Fla., June 22 (UPI) -- A bitter custody battle between a former lesbian couple will test the limits of Florida's ban on gay adoptions, legal experts say.

 

The couple, Lara Embry and Kimberly Ryan, each adopted babies given birth by the other woman while living in Washington state, which allows same-sex couples to adopt. But Ryan now lives in Sarasota, Fla., where she is engaged to be married to a man, and refuses to allow Embry to see her adoptive daughter, The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Monday.

Florida is the only state that has a blanket ban against same-sex adoptions -- a law that will be tested as Ryan seeks to have the state disregard Washington's adoption laws, the newspaper said.

Florida's 2nd District Court of Appeal has reversed a lower court's decision denying Embry the same rights as any adoptive parent, but the Liberty Counsel, a conservative advocacy organization that is representing Ryan, says it will appeal that decision to the Florida Supreme Court.

"It's direct conflict with its own laws," Liberty Counsel founder Mathew Staver told the Post. "My concern is it would create a back-door way around Florida's law. … That's not good for Florida's children."

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What do you think about same sex adoption?

Do you think children will suffer if they do not have both a mother and a father?

[SuthrnPrincess]

 I know some same sex couples that have children and are amazing parents. They could put some of my straight married friends to shame as far as parents. I think if they can pass the same background checks and requirements as the straight families who want to adopt then they should be able to. Growing up with both a mother and a father does NOT guarantee you will have a happy or great childhood or non abusive and it does NOT mean that you will NOT be exposed to things that you should not be. I honestly do not see what the sexual orientation of the couple wanting to adopt has to do with whether or not they can provide a happy and viable home for a child. This is my opinion and I am entitled to it. If you do not like it then that is fine but all the degrading and debating will not change it.......

[ta2dirishlass]

If you are able to provide a loving, stable home, it does not matter the ratio of types of genitalia.

[tericared]

Gay or straight, good parents are going to be good parents, what I see from this case is it doesnt matter if you're Gay or Straight some still use their kids as leverage to hurt the other parent...,.sad 

[rosepetal209]

The more people that love a child and honestly care about their well  being the better. How can it be bad to have someone love and care about you?

I am an adoptive mother. I have 6 kids and 2 are adopted. I dont think either of them would have given a flying toot if I were married to a man or a woman.

I may be against gay marriage personally BUT I support anyone who wants to adopt a child because the love a parent gives is not determined by what lays between their legs

In this particular case each of those women should have visitation to the children. I dont care if the one woman is now "suddenly not gay" and marrying a man. She made the decision to let her partner adopt her child and that should be binding forever no matter what state they move to.  How does any parent who has their childs interest at heart ever say "Well, now that mommy has changed her sexual preference I get to do whatever I want no matter who it hurts". Would this fly if the women had been married to a man, let him adopt her child, then hooked up with a woman? Would she be able to say that her ex husband just "wasnt the dad anymore"?....I doubt it.

[luvmygrndhg]

I think same sex adoption was a can of worms best left unopened.

This is not the first such case and it won't be the last:

Here's a few others:

Miller v Jenkins - ex-lesbian barring lesbian ex-lover from custody of her biological (IVF) child

Lewis v Rowan - a lesbian is awarded visitation against the wishes of her ex-lover (the child's biological mother) who left her because she was abusive.

Giancaspro v Congleton - battle for 3 adoptive children

Leach v Fairchild - ex lesbian lovers in Ohio duke it out in family court for their adopted son

Wheeler v Wheeler - birthmom attempts to bar ex-lesbian lover from joint custody of their son after separating

Maniaci v Kulstad - Maniaci adopted 2 kids, later she got together with Kulstad and allowed her to become adoptive parent too, 10 years later they split and Maniaci went straight.  She got married and she wanted to terminate Kulstad's adoption rights but the court didn't grant her motion...she appealed to the Montana Supreme court

Hyett v Glazer two Massachussetts gay dads divorce and fight for custody of adoptive son...one kidnaps child and flees to Israel but is brought back and put in prison

Johnson v SooHoo - SooHoo did not legally adopt child but filed for custody and child support after separation...judge only granted visitation

Vowels v Scourfield - biological mother seeks to bar custody from ex lesbian lover in Texas

Janice M v Margaret K in MD - Janice M adopted a baby from India...Margaret never formalized her relationship but wants joint custody after separation.  Court didn't grant it.

[MawagaMom]

Same sex couples need to have the same thing that opposite sex couples have for their children - a love home.  As long as that is there then I believe the adoption should take place.

[margroc]

 

Quoting luvmygrndhg:

I think same sex adoption was a can of worms best left unopened.

This is not the first such case and it won't be the last:

Here's a few others:

Miller v Jenkins - ex-lesbian barring lesbian ex-lover from custody of her biological (IVF) child

Lewis v Rowan - a lesbian is awarded visitation against the wishes of her ex-lover (the child's biological mother) who left her because she was abusive.

Giancaspro v Congleton - battle for 3 adoptive children

Leach v Fairchild - ex lesbian lovers in Ohio duke it out in family court for their adopted son

Wheeler v Wheeler - birthmom attempts to bar ex-lesbian lover from joint custody of their son after separating

Maniaci v Kulstad - Maniaci adopted 2 kids, later she got together with Kulstad and allowed her to become adoptive parent too, 10 years later they split and Maniaci went straight.  She got married and she wanted to terminate Kulstad's adoption rights but the court didn't grant her motion...she appealed to the Montana Supreme court

Hyett v Glazer two Massachussetts gay dads divorce and fight for custody of adoptive son...one kidnaps child and flees to Israel but is brought back and put in prison

Johnson v SooHoo - SooHoo did not legally adopt child but filed for custody and child support after separation...judge only granted visitation

Vowels v Scourfield - biological mother seeks to bar custody from ex lesbian lover in Texas

Janice M v Margaret K in MD - Janice M adopted a baby from India...Margaret never formalized her relationship but wants joint custody after separation.  Court didn't grant it.

 

You don't think this type of thing occurs in straight families?  We are always hearing about bitter custody battles - not to mention straight parents that flee with the children so their ex can't see them.  If this is your logic, should we not allow straight couples to adopt then?

[rnjMOM]

If a child can be provided a loving stable home why not? Who cares?! They even let single people adopt and other unmarried couples. As long as the child is taken care of!!

 

[athenax3]

Quoting SuthrnPrincess:

 I know some same sex couples that have children and are amazing parents. They could put some of my straight married friends to shame as far as parents. I think if they can pass the same background checks and requirements as the straight families who want to adopt then they should be able to. Growing up with both a mother and a father does NOT guarantee you will have a happy or great childhood or non abusive and it does NOT mean that you will NOT be exposed to things that you should not be. I honestly do not see what the sexual orientation of the couple wanting to adopt has to do with whether or not they can provide a happy and viable home for a child. This is my opinion and I am entitled to it. If you do not like it then that is fine but all the degrading and debating will not change it.......

You said it as well as if not better than I could have this morning- I totally agree.

[bigmomma038]

I fill from the bottom of my heart that if the child has a loving home it should not matter if the couple that is raising the child is gay or streight. Let the women see her child.