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.

Same-Sex Couples and Adoption in NSW

A NSW Government parliamentary inquiry has recommended that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children. The victory was a narrow one, so narrow that it required the chair to cast the deciding vote, and the vote is likely to reignite the nurture / nature debate sometime down the track in the event that the State Government picks up on the recommendation and seeks to amend the relevant laws and regulations.

In essence, the report recommends that same-sex couples must not be discriminated against in the adoption process. Therefore, same-sex couples are to be assessed in exactly the same way as a heterosexual couple as to their suitability to adopt children.

It is expected that if the legislation was to be amended, then this would expand the pool of potential / possible parents. It is also expected that this will provide greater flexibility to adoption agencies in ensuring that the best interests of the child are realized by allowing them to be adopted by the best possible candidates for parenthood.

If the government was to run with the recommendations, then the first step would be to introduce an amendment bill to the Adoption Act. However, considering the contentious nature of the subject matter, then there is also an expectation that this may spend a lot of time in committees seeking to determine the feasibility of amending the legislation to reflect the recommendations.

The reality is that the government is struggling in opinion polls and this one is not likely to help them on that front. It would be interesting to see whether the government would allow a conscience vote on the bill if it were ever to make it to the floor of parliament.

The amendment of the legislation is the right thing to do. The fact that gay and lesbian couples are prohibited from adopting children is discriminatory. As human beings, people have a right to live their lives free from the discriminatory discretion of the state. Same-sex couples already have the right to foster children, so it makes sense that these same people must also enjoy the right to adopt children as well.

With a bit of luck the NSW Government will not play politics with this one and just get it done. After all, it is the right thing to do.