From: Sara Dykstra
Date: Feb 25, 2006 2:15 PM
Subject: Adoption and Foster Care Bill
To: rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us
Dear Member of the TN House Committee on Children and Family Affairs-
I am writing to you in reference to the adoption and foster parent bills currently proposed in regard to parents who are homosexual. I am not gay myself, but I know a number of people who are. They are brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and even mothers and fathers. Their lives are just as much a part of the human experience as someone who got the fortunate genes to be attracted to someone that is socially acceptable. Creating legislation that would not allow them to adopt or be foster parents is unacceptable to be on a number of levels.
First, research shows that parents who are gay can provide the same safe, quality, enriching, loving parenting as those who are heterosexual. Professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers recognize this and not only accept it but have pushed for policies and legislation that ALLOWS for parents who are gay to adopt and be foster parents. Banning this is a blatant infringement of civil rights and is contrary to extensive research in the area. There is NO evidence that children who grow up with gay parents have any distorted view of sexuality or grow up to be homosexual themselves. Instead they grow up to be understanding, tolerant and accepting of people who are different than themselves.
Second, we have a crisis in our country in that we do not have enough loving, safe homes for the children who desperately need them. The number one factor in a child's development is a safe, loving home. Limiting readily available homes by saying that people who are gay are unfit to have a child in their home is naive, and destructive to the development and livlihood of children in need. I would never advocate putting a child in a home where that child's safety could be harmed or where they would be exposed to inappropriate or abusive behavior. However, being gay is not directly corrolated with those things.
Please do what you can to stop these destructive and discriminatory bills. The children who need safe, loving homes are depending on you to do so.
Thanks for your time,
Sara Dykstra
Master's student in Special Education
Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
Date: Feb 25, 2006 2:15 PM
Subject: Adoption and Foster Care Bill
To: rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us
Dear Member of the TN House Committee on Children and Family Affairs-
I am writing to you in reference to the adoption and foster parent bills currently proposed in regard to parents who are homosexual. I am not gay myself, but I know a number of people who are. They are brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and even mothers and fathers. Their lives are just as much a part of the human experience as someone who got the fortunate genes to be attracted to someone that is socially acceptable. Creating legislation that would not allow them to adopt or be foster parents is unacceptable to be on a number of levels.
First, research shows that parents who are gay can provide the same safe, quality, enriching, loving parenting as those who are heterosexual. Professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers recognize this and not only accept it but have pushed for policies and legislation that ALLOWS for parents who are gay to adopt and be foster parents. Banning this is a blatant infringement of civil rights and is contrary to extensive research in the area. There is NO evidence that children who grow up with gay parents have any distorted view of sexuality or grow up to be homosexual themselves. Instead they grow up to be understanding, tolerant and accepting of people who are different than themselves.
Second, we have a crisis in our country in that we do not have enough loving, safe homes for the children who desperately need them. The number one factor in a child's development is a safe, loving home. Limiting readily available homes by saying that people who are gay are unfit to have a child in their home is naive, and destructive to the development and livlihood of children in need. I would never advocate putting a child in a home where that child's safety could be harmed or where they would be exposed to inappropriate or abusive behavior. However, being gay is not directly corrolated with those things.
Please do what you can to stop these destructive and discriminatory bills. The children who need safe, loving homes are depending on you to do so.
Thanks for your time,
Sara Dykstra
Master's student in Special Education
Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
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