LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender), same-sex, or gay (for short) adoption is the adoption of children by LGBT parents, either individually, or as a couple. LGBT adoption is a complex legal issue, involving several considerations. 14 states in the world have laws on the books specifically giving gay couples the right to adopt. Several other states have jurisdictions where same-sex couples are legally allowed to adopt, while not having a national law on the issue. For example, several States in the US allow gay couples to adopt, a few specifically prohibit it, and the rest have no specific right or prohibition against it. But there is no federal (nation-wide) law settling the issue for all States. A few other countries, like Finland and Iceland, allow one partner in a same-sex union to adopt the other's biological child. This is especially relevant for lesbian couples where one partner gives birth to the child, gay male couples who use a surrogate with the sperm of one of the partners, and individuals who enter a gay relationship after having or adopting children in a hetereosexual relationship (essentially same-sex step-parent rights). In other countries, gay people may petition individually to adopt, while gay couples cannot. The majority of countries in the world, though, have laws specifically prohibiting adoption by gay couples. In others, like the majority of African states, being gay is in itself illegal, so the point of adoption is moot. Many gay and lesbian couples emigrate from countries where it may be unsafe for same-sex couples to raise a family to those which allow for gay marraige and adoption.

would it affect gender roles? would it change what a "traditional family" is? is the childs welfare in danger?
what do you think should same sex couples be allowed to adopt?

Gay couples can be as miserable and unhappy as straight couples.  Or they can be as happy and supportive as straight couples.  As long as they can afford children and provide a strong, united, educational upbringing, there is no reason why gay couples should not be able to adopt children. Everyone knows there are enough kids that need loving parents, no one should be sent away.

Do gay couples have any impact on gender roles?  Of course they do, and probably as strongly as straight couples.  However, there is no right answer on who should be doing what.  Males can't give birth but outside of that, women can be mathematicians, astronauts, soldiers, and doctors.  Men can be nannies, nurses, teachers, and so on.  That part doesn't matter.  People just do what they like and if they're good at it they'll be successful.

As far as the gender roles thing, warmaker summed up what I was going to say. When we are in a world that is slowly moving toward a view of equality (we aren't there yet), 'gender roles' is different throughout different families. So the fact that there are 2 fathers or 2 mothers doesn't really matter.

Pretty sure most who would oppose it would make ridiculous 'arguments' that influences the sexuality of the child. That has been shown to be untrue. Your sexual orientation isn't about how you are raised, it is wiring you are born with. If gay parents causing adopted kids to grow up to be gay was sound logic, then there shouldn't be homosexuals who came from heterosexual families.

It is already messed up that because of someone's sexual orientation that so man people think it is okay to take away the rights that heterosexuals have to be married. But to say that you aren't allowed to be parents, in my opinion, is even more disgusting.

Also, there are countless children made by couples who didn't mean to get pregnant and don't want to be parents. Working at the mental health center for many years in the past, I have seen how much that screws up a kid. At least there are no unplanned accidents in a homosexual parenthood. Since they have to adopt, they clearly planned for it, prepared for it, and even more importantly actually WANT a child to raise and love.

This question is like "Should strawberry bagels be allowed to be sold at walmart?" It's the same f***ing thing as a regular bagel, so why shouldn't it be able to be sold? Taking rights away from homosexuals is just... well there's only 2 things I know of: Either you're a complete ass and want to make their lives miserable in every way. Or B. Your faith is against homosexuals. Either way it's wrong...

Anyone who believes that same sex couples should not be allowed to adopt, should not be allowed to adopt. 

This thread has been made before.
I cant be bothered typing out my exact argument again, so I will summarisse with this.

Anyone who thinks its better kids have no parents, and live in a soulless orphanage their entire life, is a moron.
I normally wouldnt go as far as stating you were stupid for disagreeing, but the fact is plenty of kids are brought up by single parents or 2 people of the same gender who arent in a relationship.
How that is any different I cannot fathome.
If you think its wrong thats fine, but you have no right to deprive a kid of a home, everyone should have a shot at familly.

If straight couples should be allowed to adopt, then why not same sex couples?

Human beings are meant to help take care of the young when they reach to a certain age of their lives. The great part about same sex couples is that it gives us the perspective of one gender being able to have both traits from each gender like being nurturing or working. I do agree with warmaker on his statement. There have been a slight increase of the acceptance of same sex couples as well. They should be able to live their lives like any other happy couple despite of sexual orientation.

Honestly i don't see what the big deal is on why people are against it. 

Children need love and they will find that in couples willing to adopt kids regardless of their gender, These kids need the love and support that they probably have never received. 

I'm not sure about America but same sex couples over here are pretty much accepted all the time.. I'm sure about the laws about adopting a child but i feel America is slightly behind on the whole "Equal rights based on sexuality". Then again in England we don't really have such a strong religious view as some of America. So that's probably why. 

As for gender roles.. The world is transforming, It's not the same as it was 20 years ago. Stereotypes are changing for the better i feel. The world is slowly becoming a more equal place. As long as the child receives love and attention i don't think it matters what role the parents have. 

As for the child being in danger.. I don't even fathom how this is a question you've got two people that obviously are willing and loving to adopt a child. But yet they might be in danger... I just don't how to answer this question fully without face palming... 

The way i see it.. People don't like gays because it's either not natural or religion... My arguments to that is.. People use planes to fly and that's not natural.. Plus would you realistically let a book decide for you what is right and wrong?

sonicmcmuffin : For your last sentence, the answer to that is yes. A book has been the cause of countless forms of oppression and judgement since the development of literacy.

Let's be real. People try to make so many arguments against homosexual rights
Right to adopt, right to marry, etc.
Straight up, if you have a problem gay people doing any of those things
the only reason you have is that you just hate gay people.
You can make up whatever excuse you want, but you just don't like them and wanna stick it to them
And quite frankly, if you dislike homosexuals that much
You probably have some homosexual tendencies yourself, and that bothers you.

Forgot the bible argument, because these people freely ignore other parts of the bible.
They aren't trying to ban divorce, even though that's as big a sin in the Bible. (well, maybe the extremist are, but you get point)
As much as many Christians would argue differently, all Christians ignore parts of the Bible.
Especially the old testament. 
So the fact that they have a problem with homosexuality, and want to ban homosexual rights?
The Bible isn't the cause....it's another excuse.
That's how I see it at least.

Also homosexuality is genetic, not learned.
While there is no tangible "proof" of this, it's pretty certain.

EDIT:
After the beginning of a discussion with a user on this board
I feel like it would be a good idea to clarify a couple things about this post, as I realize I stated some things improperly.
I'll try to make it quick.
First, let me say I was speaking about people who passionately make a personal crusade against homosexual rights,
and not people who just frown upon homosexuality in general. This post does not apply to them, though I do feel they are...misguided
Just my personal opinion on that, however.
And as far as "all Christians ignore parts of the bible", I am speaking of course to the extreme or invalidated parts.
I wasn't trying to say all Christians are hypocrites by any means (though unfortunately too large a number are)
Some parts are simply no longer valid for this day and age, especially large parts of the old testament.
My point was, that I feel crusades against homosexuality could easily be considered one of those parts, yet it is not.
Ok, having a problem with homosexuality, and homosexuals getting married and such is one thing,
but I don't think religion has anything to do with the people picketing and protesting, and getting enraged over the very thought of gays adopting or getting married.

Of course they should! What could possibly make them any worse parents than a male/female couple? Not allowing them that doesn't make any sense to me...

There are no proper arguments for not allowing same-sex couples to adopt, there have been studies to study the differences between those raised by M/F and those of either M/M or F/F and they have shown there are... really no differences, any differences are small and moot or caused by biases by the researchers. The only problem is how the child shall be treated by others but since people are, in general, becoming more accepting this problem is becoming smaller by the year.

a-sassy-black-lady : yes i support all kinds of things like that your like that from birth and you should be able to be who you want to and i support it,if they wanna adopt they US should learn to accept it

Yes they should. It shouldnt matter if a girl and a guy want to adopt or if two girls want to adopt. Everyone should have the right to choose if they want to adopt or not.

a-sassy-black-lady : To me as long as the kid is getting a home. As long as the kid will be loved and supported well fed and keep healthy. It does not matter if the people who adopt them are strate gay married dateing single or what but thats just me 

Hello Sassy. Wow talk about throwing out a hot potato for everyone to play with. Ok let me start by pasting your questions then I'll get to answering them as best I can. 
would it affect gender roles? Would it change what a "traditional family" is? Is the child's welfare in danger?
what do you think should same sex couples be allowed to adopt?
1. Would it affect gender roles ? No I don't think it would because in every couple I have met there is a clear "male-ish" person and a "Female-ish". One assumes the roles in the relationship... so on that note I would have to say for sure no. 
2. Would it change a "Traditional Family" structure? Yes it would but not for the obvious reason that everyone who is against it says tho. Traditional is man and wife. They would not be traditional in that sense but as I answered in the above question by their natures it would be "like" traditional. So yes is the answer.
3. Is the child's welfare in danger ? Why would the child be in danger if they have 2 loving parents to guide and support them ? Why does it matter that they are of the same gender. They are still people who laugh, cry, bleed, work, and sacrifice same as any other straight person out there. Besides the fact that I've seen plenty of straight people who couldn't be parents on their best days. So the answer in my opinion is no.
4. Do I think same sex couples should be able to adopt or not ? Yes you better believe that I think they should. Can't do any worse or better than any straight parents out there. Plus on top of that like I said earlier they're the same as any normal person when it comes to morals and how they live their lives. In fact for a lot of the couples I have met I would say they would do a better job than most at being parents. They have a right to have family same as anyone else. Also I think that most gay couples form relationships that are more stable than many heterosexual marriages. To me that spells emotional security to me for the child. There is also a shortage of adoptive parents. The Family, whether gay or straight, is better than the foster-care system in my opinion. 

I can see why you started this thread but I honestly can't think of any great arguments that could be put out there against same sex marriage or adoptions. The main one I hear all the time is the bible and the 5th commandment. The Fifth Commandment says: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” To me that means honoring your parents not what sex they are. It all boils down to your opinion on whether a gay person is a human being or not and I would hope most people would say human and as such they'd deserve the right to do anything straight people get to do. It's called freedom and rights that at the moment are being denied. To me that is the same as slavery. I will not explain that answer nor should I need to if anyone takes a moment to think about it with an open mind. Hope I answered you fully Sassy and sorry if I went on a bit of a tear but this one hits close to home in more ways than one with me.

Yes I believe that same sex couples should be allowed to adopt because there'll unfortunately always be kid's who don't have parents and if any of those kids remain parentless because the couple who wants to adopt them is not allowed to because they're same sex that would be a huge blow to the kid (or kids in some cases)...

There are so many unwanted children in this world. So many parents who are unfit for raising a child, mentally and emotionally, not to mention financially. So many broken, terrible families who only cause pain and trouble for the children they uncaringly bring into the world.

The only reason to deny gay adoption is on religious means, which to some is the end of the matter. I feel that it would be so much better for the unwanted children of this world to have a loving, supportive couple who not only want the child from start to finish and are financially set, stable and ready for children than to leave them in the foster system.

The thinking behind denying gay adoption is broken, based in the dark ages, and completely stupid. I don't usually speak out so strongly against religious bias (I believe that everyone has a right to believe what they believe, no matter how wrong-headed or cruel it might be) but in this case, it angers me that loving, desperately willing couples are being denied the opportunity to share their love, life experiences, money, home, heart and stability to children who desperately need all of those things.

I understand if you don't agree that being gay is a good thing. But think about how kids come out of the foster care system-sure there's good ones, but there are more bad ones and many of the kids of the foster system are fundamentally broken. Why don't we give these kids a fighting chance?

As long as they have the right background, I think it's perfectly okay for them to adopt. (No drug addicts, crimes, etc.. Anything morally wrong)

I personally don't think there are any major differences between an opposite sex couple and a same sex couple.