GLBT refers to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals in the society who have the zeal to undertake parenthood responsibilities. In this regard, people who are engrossed in LGBT parenting would have a preference of parenting one or more children. It is important to note as Mallon (269) has done that GLBT parents have got the same reasons behind parenting as heterosexual people. He furthers this idea explaining why a significant number of GLBT parents get into parenthood when they are single with an intention of creating a family.
Numerous researches have been carried out over the same issue of GLBT parenting and the sex of children that they prefer adopting. For instance, Biblarz and Savci (482) carried a recent study that studied a good number of pre-adoptive lesbian parents that significantly consider adopting female children as compared to the male one. The reason behind this is that the boys with lesbian parents would face a lot of heterosexism than the girls with the same lesbian parents. As it is rightfully noted, arguments by different scholars indicate that little girls have different perceptions in their imaginative, torture and anger. Additionally, their take on beauty, self concept and body image is at a depth getting an influence by dolls.
Sexual orientation becomes a quandary also when it comes to parenting. Research done by Bigner and Wetchler (149) indicates that for every ten gay men, one of them is involved in parental responsibilities. Similarly, the same research indicated that there is one lesbian taking responsibility in parenting in every five of them. This therefore means that there are many lesbian parents than gay ones; in fact, the number of lesbian parents doubles that of gay parents. Sexual orientation on the contrary should not have an effect on a person’s lawful capacity to parent a child, especially the ones that they desire to parent. This research by Bigner and Wetchler, also, shows that GLBT parenting is a reality in today’s society.
In the past, there used to be numerous stereotypes about sexual orientation and the abilities of GLBT persons to parent children. As Levounis and Drescher (62) observed, lesbian or gay parents have been regarded as one who can cause considerable harm to the children they are parenting as well as stigmatization wherever they are. For instance, when they are in school or with friends, the children were regarded with likelihood of facing the so believed traumas (Levounis and Drescher 62). Moreover, there was a speculation that the same LGBT parents could in turn make a good predator over the children they are parenting (Levounis and Drescher 62). This notion has been a hindrance for a free acceptance of the LGBT parents to undertake the parental responsibilities.
Over the same issue, there are different notions that crown the differences in sexual orientations. For instance, bisexuality has been given the least of consideration in terms of significance (Biblarz and Savci 489). This is because of the difficulty that comes about in terms of defining sexuality since it went beyond sexual encounters. At the same time, these categories of people have rights accorded to them in terms of child bearing. Families of transgender individuals as Biblarz and Savci (489) have identified are almost non-existent. A sole reason behind this is that the transgender individuals are experiencing a transformation in gender. This means that the transgender families have to change to a relative of another gender.
However, intensive research that has been carried out by Levounis and Drescher (63) now reflects on the positivity and general societal acceptance of the same LGBT parenthood. As a result, there is a considerable reduction of discrimination as well as discriminatory policies and laws. This has led to the rise in the number of LGBT parents are on the rise as they are now regarded in the same legal and social capacity as heterosexual parents. The similar reasons that make heterosexual people become parents are similar ones that make LBGT individuals acquire interest of becoming the same (Mallon 269).
Levounis and Drescher (64) have identified the similarity of responsibilities that LGBT parents undergo. They insist on how similar they are and in the real sense, gay parents as well as lesbian ones couples who adopt babies undergo similar sleeplessness that heterosexual parents experience. Moreover, there are certain radical changes in the way of life that these LGBT parents similarly undergo as heterosexual ones. In addition, a similar pressure in role modeling that heterosexual parents undertake is the same as those that LGBT people practice. On the other hand, it is dolls that attract little girls’ awareness of beauty, self impression and body image as had been earlier observed.
Whether parenting through heterosexual parents or LGBT parents, it is important to answer the question as to what really makes someone a good parent as well as what affords one the right to parent a child. Ball (14) has got an insight of what it takes to be a parent. In his book, he regards LGBT parenting and how the court is encouraged to reconsider basic principles of legal parenthood. In the issue of good parenting, there are so many pointers that reflect on an effective parent. One is that, good parents allow their children to make choices for themselves.
Friel, Middelton-Moz and Friel (175) have argued that good parents do not enslave their children in the many different ways that life presents. Instead, they should be there for their children providing for their basic needs and even luxuries that they may require. It does not matter the sexual orientation of the parent in terms of provision of the needs as well as a well built-in social support. In a clear fact, Friel, Middelton-Moz and Friel (175) advocate for freedom of choice, in even the kinds of friends that they relate to. They moreover say that good parents define chores that their children are supposed to undertake while examining keenly what they do to their children. Considering girls preferred forms of entertainment, an online play space that entails all about beautiful and an entertaining virtual ground that is really self-contained, all for girls. This is there for them in providence of a chance to learn more about social and cultural panorama.
Good parents are quite aware of all the responsibilities that come alongside child up-bringing and support. There are instances when heterosexual parents may have very little children to attend to. In those situations, they are supposed to be there always for them for as research done by Cox (333) indicates, the little children need a lot of attention. Similarly, LGBT parents should also do the same to their children and be aggressive enough to make them feel comfortable in all ways through every possible means. This cultivates a meaningful and intimate relationship between the parent and their children (Cox 333). On the other hand, it will be possible for the parents of the children to occasionally be away from their children when they are responsible for their up-keep. In that situation, parents go out to look for sources of income that will be for the up-keep of their children.
As a matter of fact, there are numerous reasons that are in support of right that are meant for the LGBT individuals in terms of parenthood. As Biblarz and Savci (490) have noted, LGBT parents in the recent past have experienced a lot of legal rights on parenthood accorded to them. These rights have been on the rise in many societies all over the globe as well as a mode of acceptance by other members of the society. As they have rightfully observed, there was a little difference between LGBT parents and heterosexual parents, thereby resulting into their acceptance in the society. In the same case, civil unions got enveloped in checking all that it could take to allow for the attainment of the rights to all the individuals with dissimilar sexual orientations apart from heterosexuality.
Adoption of children with an aim of raising them as LGBT parents in an immense depth has faced a strong debate, which of late seems to be in the latter’s favor. In the society, sexual orientations of parents in many ways do not alter their qualification in good parenting. As it is the case with heterosexual parenting, LGBT parenting is a deliberate decision that as Makadon has depicted in his book requires a lot of thought, money and planning. This aspect cuts across all individuals who have interests in taking parental responsibilities no matter their dissimilar sexual orientations ranging from being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The above circumstances when regarded with keen interest would for sure guarantee qualified individuals to have a right to parent.
Parenting has been viewed with considerable keen interest look upon the issue of heterosexuality as compared to other sexual orientations. There is a notion that heterosexual persons make better parents than those of different sexual orientations. Biblarz and Savci (491) have identified family as an emblematic arena, full of identity. In addition, a well established family has got interactional aspects that they have identified as a doing family, an institution that a society considers in the very best way. This is because the same talked about families are the avenues in which boundaries of the real meaning of citizenship are traced.
It is, therefore, important to acknowledge the importance of heterosexual families in terms of parenting. Owing to the discussion above, there are many speculations that heterosexual families are considered to be much essential and privileged as compared to the LGBT families. This is because children experience support and love from parents of the different sexes as the natural law dictates as compared to only one sex that the gay or lesbian parents offer their children. However, this should not hinder LGBT parents from taking parental responsibilities as it is proven beyond doubt that they too can undertake the responsibilities with a lot of efficacy. This is because there is more that is involved in parenting than just being heterosexual parents.
Works Cited
Biblarz, Timothy J. and Evren Savci. “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Families”. Journal of Marriage and Family. 72 (2010): 480-497. Print.
Mallon, Gerald P. Social Work Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People. London: Taylor & Francis, 2008. Print.
Levounis, Petros, and Jack Drescher. The LGBT Casebook. New York: American Psychiatric Pub., 2012. Print
Bigner, Jerry J. and Joseph Wechler. Handbook of Lgbt- Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Ball, Carlos L. M. The Right to Be a Parent: Lgbt Families and the Transformation of parenthood.N ew York: NYU Press, 2012. Print.
Friel, John, Middelton-Moz, Jane. and Friel, Linda D. The Seven Worst Things Good Parents Do. Boston: HCL Publication, 1999. Print.
Meezan, Wlliam, & Martin James I. Handbook of Research with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Populations. New York: Routledge, 2008. Print.
Cox, Frank D. Human Intimacy: Marriage, the Family, and Its Meaning. New York: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
