Is it OK for homosexual couples to adopt?

In this semester, I want you to examine your feelings/beliefs about issues that you will encounter in taking care of pediatric patients and their families. We will encounter diverse populations and various family dynamics. Remember we need to support all and have an attitude fostering belonging to all parents. I am just throwing out some questions, some of which may be offensive or inflammatory, but are ones that you have encountered before.

This week’s question- no right or wrong answer!

State your answer and provide some articles from the literature to support your position or otherwise add to the discussion. Food for thought scenario: you are the family nurse practitioner of two gay men who are married and have applied to adopt a child.

Some of the issues to be addressed: Is it OK for homosexual couples to adopt? Should they be limited in terms of the sex of the child that they adopt? What ramifications can you foresee, if any, regarding the acceptance of that child by his/her classmates? Is it likely that the child will grow up to be gay or transgender? Is it more likely that homosexual parents will sexually abuse their children? Would you feel differently if the adoptive parents were female homosexuals? What does the literature say about the effect on the child regarding having a homosexual parent? What if the homosexual parent was in a heterosexual relationship with the child’s biologic father or mother, and then one or the other parent “came out of the closet” to declare him/herself homosexual? Would you foresee any effect on the child, adverse or not?

You certainly do not need to address all of these questions- pick at least 1 or 2 to comment upon, and cite appropriate resources.