Week #4 Should gender be a consideration for adoption?

Hi Everyone,

So, I don't advertise this information but, my daughter was adopted. I adopted her after years of unsuccessfully having a biological child. I bring this topic up in our blog discussion to look at a gender issue that exists currently in adoption. One of the things that I came across was the selectiveness of adoption agencies and adoption websites. There are certain agencies and websites that will not take on gay couples as clients. They limit their services strictly to heterosexual couples only. I used a wonderful agency and they acted as agents for all couples, even singles. The website that I used to advertise was strictly for heterosexual couples. It was through their website that I built webpages and found my daughter. (It was the world wide web but, our birthmother lived in the same county!)

There were websites that were not selective and all people regardless of race, sex, age, maritial status were allowed to advertise their web pages. And, there were websites that strictly were used by gay couples. It was interesting as I read the profiles of the gay couples how long they had been committed to each other. Many were career oriented, and had interesting hobbies and travel experiences, etc. So, their biggest flaw was their marital status? Was it because they were unmarried or was it because they were gay? Or, both? (They also did not take on single parents either.)

Another interesting note: I would check back on the websites of gay couples and often, times, I would see that they found a child faster than my husband and I or, were back looking for a second couple. The stereotypes on gay couples adopting is still a strongly a negative one from my experience, and yet, I have witnessed many gay couples finding parenthood.

One of the things that upset me most through the process were people's expectations and stereotypes. My husband and I are more about what we feel and think and love than our outer exterior. A child knows no color, or sex, or race only love. They have no predetermined stereotypes and respond to being loved. Shouldn't the guideline be how much love you have to give and one's capability to nuture a baby into a kind, loving, responsible adult be the priority when adopting?