Discussion forums

Hi Deniece

            Sorry I don’t know the answer to all your questions as I can only reply from personal experience but am really happy to assist were ever possible and would love to see the results of your survey

            I believe that there are a large number of same sex partners who would appreciate the opportunity of having a healthy happy family but shun the chance for fear of society criticism You can read my ”life story” on this forum topic “adoptive and foster parents / Same sex foster parents” although some of the initial  remarks  have been edited out. In reality though, most people have a very tolerant view once they understand your real intentions I don’t blame anyone being sceptical as you read so much about abuse of kids in venerable situations such as foster homes but don’t tar everyone with the same brush whether they be gay, straight priests or school teachers etc.

            For our part We are have been  looking after a foster child for only a short time and do not want to adopt but do expect a life long term commitment to our child. I believe that there are no specific laws referencing adoption by same sex couples although courts have relaxed their views on this recently and have been allowing one person from a same sex partnership to adopt (please check this out further as I may not be fully up to date on this data )

Is there a large amount of children getting bullied because of their parents being different ?? From my limited experience kids don’t seem to worry about parent’s sexual orientation Kids are more likely to be judged on their own behaviour and not that of their parents.

Do you believe it is love not gender that makes a family?? I believe that gender has nothing to do with a happy family A child needs security nutrition and a basic education in life skills to survive and grow to adulthood and if these are not present in any family situation don’t blame the child for falling off the rails.

Do you believe that a child raised in same sex families is disadvantaged?? In some ways yes there are certainly things a female ( not many ha ha ) instinct can handle better than a male and vice versa but in same sex situation kids seem to be more understanding and open and the “family” tends to think through situations more than a “natural family” so I guess they are perhaps better off.

Don’t know about the church thing really don’t care either Anyone who believes Mary was a virgin really isn’t qualified to comment on more complex matters

Can’t answer the question on sexual persuasion but I believe that either you are or are not Gay and anyone trying to influence kids about their feelings in this regard is wrong  We encourage our child to think and interact with the opposite sex but they are far from ready for hormone intervention yet and it will be their decision not ours when the time comes.

Do you think that children who are brought up by parents of the same sex are developmentally affected??  Don’t know Although a child raised in any situation will probably believe that if something goes wrong in later life it was caused by their “unnatural family situation “ but this could apply to anything like alcoholic parent/parents family illnesses  family split ups etc. (( I am just reading a book Desirelines by Peter Wherrett (who has been on the news lately regarding his past) and his brother))

Acceptance of other family situations?? Gay couple kids would behave no differently to any other kids of out of the norm families except that I am sure they would feel more special than kids in split up families where they get thrown from one parent to the other or Mum and/or Dad  have a different partner every week.

            I don’t think kids of same sex partners are more likely to be attracted to a person of the same sex They may certainly be more open about it if it happens and a lot less screwed up about their feelings