07 August 2009

Homosexuality -- Not Normal -- In Queensland


Queensland is a bright and sunny place that is known to be good one day and perfect the next. However, it would seem that it is neither bright and sunny not good one day and perfect the next when it comes to the adoption of children by same-sex couples. Reforms to the adoption regime in Queensland is set to continue a ban against same-sex (homosexual / lesbian) couples from adopting children.

This was a pleasing development for Dorothy Pratt, the Independent MP for Nanango. In Pratt's view, homosexuality is not normal. I am guessing she also believes that homosexuality and lesbianism is a disease that can be cured. It is a sad state of affairs when we discriminate against a sector of the community based on their sexuality with respect to their ability to be parents.

The first and foremost considerations should be that of the child. Therefore, if this is the paramount right, then the consideration moves to whether the applicant(s) to be would make a good parent(s). It is a sad indictment when righteous do-gooders hide behind the idea that God ordains only parental relationships with children that involve a married mother and father. The idea that a child cannot be given a balanced view of the world with two fathers or two mothers is naive at best. The reality is that children can and will have interaction with role models outside of their immediate families.

The law is alive and is constantly changing. So, as we move into the brave new world of the future, it seems almost certain that at some point Queensland will have cause to revisit this issue. And, perhaps at that time all Queenslanders will be given the right to adopt where they are deemed to be suitable parent material.

Thus endeth the sermon for Friday.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Come on Rob,

Not another pain in the ass posts!!!

GJ

Rob Baiton said...

GJ...

I am guessing you could not resist?

My understanding is that it is not all pain in the ass for same-sex couples.

Mark Zamen said...

You are correct in that the suitability for parenthood of the particular individuals is what should matter, not their sexual orientation. I have not the slightest doubt that many gay couples would make far better parents than many straight couples; my own personal experience makes that quite clear. Being the child of heterosexuals by no means ensures a balanced, loving home environment. That there remains discrimination regarding this issue is yet another reminder that a large segment of society still considers gay men and women as second-class citizens - or worse. That is the salient point of my recently released biographical novel, Broken Saint. It is based on my forty-year friendship with a gay man, and chronicles his internal and external struggles as he battles for acceptance (of himself and by others). More information on the book is available at www.eloquentbooks.com/BrokenSaint.html.

Mark Zamen, author

Rob Baiton said...

Mark...

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Comments are always appreciated.

I will keep an eye out for your book.

If you want you could send me a copy and I could read and review it, and then post that review here :D

Just a thought.

Good luck, and once again, thanks.