By Polina Pallieraki,
Homosexuality is the romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behaviour between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is ”an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and sexual attractions” to people of the same sex. It also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviours, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions. Along with bisexuality and heterosexuality, homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation within the heteroexual-homosexual continuum. Scientists do not yet know the exact cause of sexual orientation, however they theorize that it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal and environmental influences and do not view it as a choice. Although no single theory on the cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, scientists favor biologically-based theories. There is considerably more evidence supporting non-social. biological causes of sexual orientation, especially for males. Moreover, there is no substantive evidence which suggests parenting or early childhood experiences play a role with regard to sexual orientation. While some people believe that homosexual activity is unnatural, scientific research shows that homosexuality is normal and natural variation in human sexuality and it is not in and of itself a source of negative phycological effects. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of phycological interventions to change sexual orientation. The most common adjectives for homosexual people are lesbian for females and gay for males, but the term ‘gay’ also commonly refers to both homosexual females and males. The percentage of people who are gay or lesbian and the proportion of people who are in the same sex romantic relationships or have had same sex sexual experiences are difficult for researchers to estimate reliably for a variety of reasons, including many gay and lesbian people not openly identify as such due to predujice or discrimination such as homophobia and heterosexism. Homosexual behaviour has also been documented in many non-human animal species, through homosexual orientation is not significantly observed in other animals.
Lately, in Greece, important changes have been noted in the improvement of social and legal status, which concerns the rights of LGBTQ’s community. However, great efforts are needed in order for people to be equalised. One of the most common discussions, which is frequently reproduced, is about the right of adoption that most homosexual couples want to pass in the legislation and for this right to be theorized as permissible, ethical and correct. People’s views and feelings are controversial.
Today’s legal state has been configured as follows: in Greece since 2015 homosexual couples have gained the legal right to enter into a free cohabitation agreement, by which they have the same rights that a s’traight’ married couple has, excluding the right to childcare. Since May of 2018, the adoption of children by a gay couple who has entered into a free cohabitation agreement has been allowed. The adoption issue, still remains a taboo, as the Greek society is not ready to accept something so ”bold” and ”elusive”.
A big percentage of Greek people displays a negative attitude towards this -in my opinion- healthy change. The reasons that influence this disapproving climate are mainly religious, the beliefs about sexuality and the role of the sexes, people’s education levels on this matter and of course the different experiences that each family carries. The stigmatization of homosexuals may not be as strong and obvious, however, it lurks. This community has fought and is still fighting to achieve its full equality with the heterosexuals. In particular, certain issues, such as discrimination at work have marked significant improvement. However, in concepts such as starting a family, it is an obstacle course and often an unfilfilled dream. Moreover, we have many examples of everyday lifestyle which show that numerous of religious people claim that it is forbidden for a child to grow up with two fathers or two mothers.
However, education and social environment can also shape opinions, support superstitions and foster prejudice. It is common for people of lower educational levels to accept something different from the usual. And it is obvious that the contact with arts, science and literature refine the human soul and develop the mind and empathy. A degraded educational level of a person brings them more easily against their peers and thus, creates a vicious cycle of prejudice.
In addition, family is the smallest social entity and the most important one. The first stimuli are born inside the family, the first directions are given, emotional and communicative maturity is formed and promoted. A parent, who teaches his child the love of diversity, will deliver to society an active adult citizen and an advocate of tolerance and compromise. On the other hand, the family environment which will teach its child to be afraid of anything foreign to them, growing up, they will obviously be in favor of intolerance.
Moreover, gay couples raise a child/children as an heterosexual couple would. They offer them love, care, protection and even having experienced racism, they keep them away from stereotypes and by this way, the child/ children grow(s) and mature(s) in a balanced way. Researches that have examined the sociological and phycological approach of this issue, have shown that a child who will be adopted by homosexuals is at absolutely no risk of being properly educated in relation to a child from an heterosexual family.
However, the child’s subsequent sexual choices are also unaffected by the parent’s choices. After all, in Greece, amlost all homosexuals come from a mom and a dad. Therefore, utopian negative thinking revolves around sexual orientation of gay parents and how it will affect the preferences and sexual identity of children. Morever, we should not forget that a gay couple who will try to run the proccess of childbirth, knows very well that this is a phsycologically devastating situation due to waiting and intense bureaucracy mainly. Therefore, their decision is a conscious choice that has been adequately filtered. Their strong desire is their driving force to endure all the difficulties they will be called upon to face. Let us consider how many times children were born by mistake and how many were lucky and many more unlucky.
It is worth noting that starting a family is an inalienable right of every human being. In fact, countries should take the necessary measures to ensure this right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects and promotes equality, equity and don-descrimination. Adoption is not in itself a right, as someone who does not meet the requirements of the law and it is not considered a suitable parent is automatically excluded from the whole proccess. However, everyone has the right to free and understricted access to the proccess of parenting.
Briefly, the interest of the whole discussion revolves around the benefits of the child. For all of us, it is not difficult to understand that a child needs our love and protection. Whether they come from heterosexual or homosexual parents, if they receive love and fullness of emotions, they will grow up properly and happily. That alone is sufficient and paramount in any case. And for this very simple reason, it is healthy to allow homosexuals to have access in adoption and to be an inviolable rule of law. I really hope that the time will come when the next step will be taken to change the mentality and attitude of society, so that the orphanages start to empty and families to fill up!
References
Athensvoice.gr, 4+1 λόγοι γιατί η υιοθεσία από ομόφυλα ζευγάρια κάνει καλό. Available here.
Pergamos.lib.uoa.gr, Υιοθεσία από ομόφυλα ζευγάρια: σύγχρονα δεδομένα και αντιλήψεις. Available here.
