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            Adoption is a long, tedious process for anyone, but it is especially difficult for same sex couples.  Although same sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states, same sex adoption is only legal in 15: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.  An estimated 2 million members of the LGBT community show interest in adopting.  If adoption for same sex couples was legal in all 50 states, the adoption rate would significantly increase!  Imagine how many children would be able to grow up in a loving home instead of not so loving foster care. 

            Some Americans believe that raising children in a lesbian or gay household is wrong.  These people strongly believe that a child needs both motherly and fatherly roles in their life in order to be happy and successful.  This idea is based off the “traditional” way of raising children.  The traditional thinkers believe that raising a child in a same sex household with lead to the child becoming gay themselves, dysfunctional, and suicidal.  However, a recent study showed that children raised in lesbian households, are more likely to be well-adjusted than those raised in the traditional household.  The 25 year study was done by Dr. Nanette Gartrell. Her main goal for the outcome of this study was to prove a point that children are not negatively affected if they are raised by gay or lesbian parents.  In this study, Gartell interviewed lesbian women who were pregnant then continued to interview their children from age 2 until age 17.  The results of these interviews showed that, “Children from lesbian families rated higher in social, academic and total competence. They also showed lower rates in social, rule-breaking, aggressive problem behavior” (Gartell, CNN, web).  This study was ground breaking for the LGBT community and rights movement.  Yet still conservative Americans are persistent about their negative opinions on adoption for same sex couples.

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            The evidence is there and traditional minded Americans refuse to see it.  Since when is adopting a child and taking them into a loving, stable, and happy environment a bad thing?  Most people dream of having children one day.  Gay and lesbian couples have to look at other options when it comes to having children such as a surrogate mother, in vitro fertilization, and adoption.  13% of same sex couples have an adopted child opposed to only 3% of heterosexual couples.  Any child who is currently in the foster care system would undoubtedly be thrilled to be adopted into a family with open hearts and open minds, regardless if it is a same sex household or not. 

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            Meet Danilo Campos.  He grew up in a household where he was blessed with two moms.  In elementary school, kids would ask him questions like, “You don’t have a dad?  Then who teaches you how to play baseball and take you fishing?”   Danilo’s reply to this is, “The notion that there wasn't a figure around to school me in the basics of stereotypically male things was baffling, even terrifying to some boys. Oblivious to the over-arching gender roles that gave form to these concerns, I was mostly puzzled by why it should be so impossible for my own parents to teach these things,” Danilo said that growing up with lesbian parents was hard.  Not because his parents were lesbian, but because of other people’s ignorance.  The advantages outweighed the traditional minded people’s ignorance.  Danilo said one of the advantages of being raised by lesbian moms was, “It gave me an appreciation for gender equality that I think is sadly missing from most guys my age (or any age, really). My expectations of women are the same as any other human being, and I respect assertiveness, strength and forthrightness from everyone, regardless of their genital configuration.” 

Danilo’s words are so inspiring and moving.  You can tell these words come from his heart and are pure.  Being raised by lesbian mothers taught Danilo some of the most important life lessons that some people will never accept.

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            Take a look at this video of adopted children from same sex couples. The pure happiness on their faces says it all.  These kids would not be this happy if they were not part of these incredible families.  Adoption is adoption.  Regardless if the parents are gay or straight, giving a child a chance at a better life should never be looked down on.