Local Gay Parents Hope AAP's New Stance Will Ease Adoption Hurdles in Tenn. - Sky Arnold
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Gay couples in Tennessee have to jump through extra legal hoops to adopt a child. One Nashville couple has new reason to be hopeful that won't always be the case. A leading pediatricians group says it makes no difference whether parents are gay or straight. The American Academy of Pediatrics spent 5 years coming up with its new position in support of gay marriage and gay adoption rights. The group cites studies that show there's no difference for important qualities like a child's school success or self esteem if their parents are gay. That's something one local gay couple tells us they're proof of. In many ways, Greg Bullard and Brian Copeland are like any new parents, with one big exception that does attract attention.We've had people come up and say it's great that you've been able to do this because obviously this child needed a wonderful family, says Bullard.When Greg and Brian finalized the adoption of 18 month old Micah in January, they joined the 150 gay couples they know of in Middle Tennessee who've adopted.The adopted mother saw this as a family of love, says Copeland.Because they can't legally marry here, they had to adopt separately, but Greg and Brian have hope that won't always be the case.I was the first parent on the adoption, says Copeland.This week the American Academy of Pediatrics said science has found no difference between a child who grows up with gay or lesbian parents or heterosexual parents.What every child needs is love, 2 parents in an ideal situation and to see families like us and parents like us are gonna be just as good as another parent, says Copeland.Not everyone sees it that way, though. Tennessee lawmakers considered banning gay adoptions in 2005 and Tennessee's David Fowler released this statement:The AAP's position is social activism wrapped in science used to serve as propaganda in the cultural war against the natural family, which is the foundational unit of humanity.Greg and Brian believe critics might see things differently if they spent a little time in their home. Greg and Brian have had custody of Micah since birth and Brian was even in the birthing room. He was able to finalize his side of the adoption in November, while Greg finalized his in January.
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