Same-sex adoption another step forward in LGBTQ rights

Fabienne Fleurantin/ Staff Writer

Love wins once again. Same-sex couples are now allowed to adopt children in all 50 states. This is a win for the LGBTQA community, but there are still some hiccups along the way.

“A federal judge ruled Thursday that Mississippi’s ban on same-sex couples adopting children is unconstitutional, making gay adoption legal in all 50 states,” according to the Huffington Post.

This all started with a Mississippi law that banned same-sex couples from adopting children, which was put in place since 2000. Four same-sex couples challenged this law and were joined by the Campaign for Southern Equality and the Family Equality Canal.

Not only did the Supreme Court see that this Mississippi law denied same-sex couples a benefit, but decided that it would be hypocritical if they didn’t pass it, since they already granted same-sex marriage all over the United States.

The fact of the matter is that it’s wrong to withhold same-sex couples from having the same rights as heterosexuals. We live in a society that is dominated by a cisgendered mentality and it’s time that changed. We aren’t the only ones who occupy this space and it’s time people realized that. It’s not fair that families are broken apart and dreams are dismantled due to the fears and misconstrued ideals that are held by those who refuse to understand.

While same-sex couples have prevailed with this recent ruling, the LGBTQ community still faces some struggles when it comes to starting a family.

In North Dakota, according to pewtrusts.org, there is a law that “allows single people to adopt, but specific that adopting couples must be ‘husband and wife’.” In Alabama, married gay couples can adopt a foster child, but have a longer wait and have to be married a year before applying for adoption.

There are still states fighting against this progression, seeing it as a negative setback. Some believe that gay couples should not be granted the same rights as others because it defies religion and goes against human nature. But that is simply not true.

News flash—those people who think they are saving kids from growing up in a happy and healthy home are actually hindering them. Wake up and open your eyes. Times are changing. It’s time to get with it.

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Photo taken from Flickr.