State Supreme Court to address same-sex adoption
Submitted by scharrison on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 1:50pm
The legality of same-sex adoption in North Carolina is called into question in this brief (pdf) headed to the State Supreme Court:
The legality of same-sex adoptions in North Carolina is a question of vital importance to adoptees, adoptive parents, biological parents, judges, clerks, lawyers, DHHS, and the citizens of this State. If contrary to law, such adoptions should not be allowed.
Strange argument
This brief spends a lot of time attacking previous courts' acceptance of a statutory "waiver" which allowed the birth mother to retain some parental rights. Without the waiver, the (birth) mother wouldn't have had any rights. Weird.
The only reason I can think that her attorney would do this is to posit that the birth mother never would have agreed to allow the adoption without the waiver, and the waiver was not legal, so...I don't know.
Adoption is a "hot button" issue for many, sharrison
I am not sure exactly what all this means. I do know this:
Children that are given up for adoption or that are adopted early enough in life to not have any recollection of their birth parent (s), fair far better in formative years not knowing 1). that they are adopted children and 2). the history/past of their birth mother/parents.
It does not matter whether or not a child is adopted by a gay couple or a heterosexual couple. And, it is not about the parent (s), it is about the child, regardless of circumstances that ultimately caused a child to be involved in adoption in the first place.
Many adopted children have gone back and found their adopted parents. But, that has happened almost exclusively AFTER they have gone through their formative years and AFTER they have created a bond with their adoptive parents.
Sometimes there is more to an issue than just "goody two-shoes" philophies.
Please explain
the "goody two shoes" philosophies to which you're referring? Can't tell where you're aiming that.
Bad choice of words
It was meant to mean that we must look at what is best for the child, not for the parent(s).
Sorry 'bout the choice of words. Came out wrong.
Gotcha
It's a complicated issue, for sure. I wouldn't want to be the one trying to figure out what's best for children, like judges in family courts do. I'd probably end up trying to adopt half of them myself.
Same sex adoption
Does that mean I couldn't adopt two boys at once because they might turn gay?
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Heh
:)
Best interest of the child
...is and should remain the standard.
For the NC Supreme Court to endanger the "best interest of the child" standard is beyond reckless. It could upset thousands of adoptions by straights, much less adoptions by gay folks.
There was nothing wrong with the Court of Appeals ruling, and I hope the Supreme Court just confirms that.
I agree totally
I see at least two potentially negative outcomes from this case. There is (of course) the possibility of a state-wide ban on same-sex adoptions, but there is also a potential halt to the waivers that allow for the birth mother to remain involved in the child's life, if it's beneficial.
I hope the Supreme Court treads lightly here.