Popular Culture Review Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2005 | Page 61

Out of Focus on the Family 57
4 . Adoption laws will be instantly obsolete .
Another sweeping generalization and non-sequitur argument . The overriding criterion in all adoption cases is “ the best interest of the child .” On June 16 , 2004 , the American Medical Association voted to endorse the legalization of same-sex adoptions . The resolution stated , in part : “ having two fully sanctioned and legally defined parents promotes a safe and nurturing environment for children .” Dr . David Fassler , a delegate from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , reaffirmed that , “ All the scientific evidence points to no differences among children raised in heterosexual or homosexual families ” ( www . ama-assn . org ).
On the other hand , Dr Dobson offers no sources or evidence , elaboration , or explanation for this argument against same-sex marriage that reads , in toto :
From the moment that homosexual marriage becomes legal , courts will not be able to favor a traditional coupling of one man and one woman in matters of adoption . Children will be placed in homes with parents representing only one sex on an equal basis with those having a mom and a dad . Even the polyamorous couples won ’ t be excluded . The prospect of fatherless and motherless children will not be considered in the evaluation of eligibility . It will be the law .
“ From the moment that homosexual marriage becomes legal ”: they have been legal in Massachusetts since May 17 , 2004 . There are still millions of children awaiting adoption . Unfortunately , the only changes in adoption laws seem not to have been “ in the best interest of the child ,” but aimed at rebuking their same-sex parents . Consider this news item from Advocate . com , September 15 , 2004 , “ Oklahoma ’ s antigay adoption law challenged ”:
An antigay adoption law widely considered to be so extreme that it could leave children adopted by same-sex couples in other states orphans in the eyes of Oklahoma officials was challenged in federal court on Wednesday . The suit , filed by the gay rights group Lambda Legal , seeks to overturn the law , which was passed hastily at the end of the Oklahoma legislative session earlier this year . Lambda is representing same-sex couples who adopted children while living in other states and later moved to Oklahoma with their children or want to visit the state with their family . “ This drastic law could be interpreted to nullify legal adoptions of children by same-sex couples in other states when they are in Oklahoma ,” said Brian Chase , staff attorney in Lambda Legal ’ s South