Florida and the Future of Gay Adoption Essay - 3987 Words

Florida and the Future of Gay Adoption The line between public and private is quickly diminishing, if there ever was a line to start. Private ideologies (social and moral/ethical attitudes) have been made public by what legislation does (not) relegate, and then protects the right to privacy for the individuals who abide by these private ideologies. The intrinsic protection of adherents to a dominant ideology forces those with deviant ideology to actively make their private concerns public in order to be granted their right to privacy. However, even after this guarantee it is not possible for the private to leave the public sphere until the dominant ideology changes radically to incorporate these rights at the same intrinsic level of†¦show more content†¦The ban on gay adoption has been in place since 1977, when the state legislature almost unanimously condoned restriction of the rights of its gay citizens. The lines of public and private are particularly blurred when it comes to adoption. Adoption is a completely public process; there is no privacy for the couple or individual involved as they are scrutinized by the state, whether they be homosexual or not. The state is justified in violating a persons right to privacy in the best interest of the child or children they may adopt. At the time of the Florida laws inception, Senator Curtis Peterson, one of its primary supporters, spoke to the laws purpose: The problem in Florida has been that homosexuals are surfacing to such an extent that theyre beginning to aggravate the ordinary folks. Were trying to send them a message, telling them: Were really tired of you. We wish youd go back into the closet (2). History of Florida State Adoption Law Legislation on the issue was sparked by Anita Bryants Save Our Children campaign, which raged through Florida and the nation spreading myths about homosexuality and linking homosexuality to pedophilia. In 1977, Anita Bryant was a popular singer and a spokesperson for Florida Orange Juice. Her campaign against homosexuals played on latent fears and misconceptions about homosexuality and triggered a wide-spread response across the nation from groups that would come to beShow MoreRelatedGay Adoption Should Be Legal1411 Words   |  6 Pageshomosexuals from adopting. Gay adoption should be legal in all states because children can be raised in the same upbringing as heterosexual parents, sometimes can have better lives than those who are raised by heterosexual parents, and the banning of gay adoption goes against the homosexual parents’ rights. Children in a homosexual environment can have the same upbringing as heterosexual parents. 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