Nothing like writing that there wasn’t much to report yesterday for all hell to break loose regarding gay adoption. Yesterday, the Daily Mail (for anyone outside the UK it’s a very conservative paper that disguises itself as “family oriented”) published a story (in inimitable style) about how the parents of a heroin addict have not been allowed to adopt their grandchildren and instead they’ve been matched with a gay couple:
Link to the Daily Mail story
Needless to say, the reporting is completely one-sided and of course misses out on why the grandparents haven’t been allowed to adopt, for which I am sure there are very good reasons.
Today it was followed up by this piece:
Link to the Daily Mail follow-up story
In both cases, the worst thing are the comments left by Daily Mail readers, many of whom start their comments with “I’m not a homophobe BUT...” and proceed to leave completely homophobic comments.
The Pink Paper also reported the story today, alas with an altogether different slant:
Link to the Pink Paper report on the same story
And Stonewall have issued a response expressing their deep concern about how the Daily Mail has reported the issue.
Link to Stonewall response
I actually had tears in my eyes when I read the Daily Mail piece. Just when you think that you live in a world that may accept you, it’s heartbreaking to find such homophobia and bigotry.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
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5 comments:
It's been a depressing couple of days for LGB adopters and prospective adopters, hasn't it? :(
I just hope that some good comes of this. I can't think what, to be honest, but maybe there'll be something.
Good luck to you and Glen, Fernando! I have been reading your blog since you started it (have the RSS feed linked into Google Reader) but don't think I've commented before. :)
Bonnie (from NFS) xxx
Hi Bonnie,
Yes, it's been depressing, but I think the positive side can be found in the fact that only the Daily Mail decided to pick up the story and give it a negative spin whereas the rest of the press seem to have some sense.
Thanks for reading and your good wishes!
Fernando
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the concerns regarding the Daily Mail article. Unfortunately, I guess the disguise of tolerance and acceptance is not as such as we want it to be; but hey, don't despair that there is no conquest without a fight! So much has been achieved over the last decades about gay rights, and there is so much more to do so; so we are making history.
Going back to the Daily Mail fiasco, as expected, I made a comment on the site but it has not been published... not at all surprised as it was directly related to the unintelligence of readers who take the simple unilateral approach of this story as a fact and the unprofessionalism of a judgmental journalist... I finished by saying; "these people raising children is what I am worried about rather than gay as adoptive parents." I guess that the Daily Mail prefers to stick with the view of some readers and ignore mine, a child psychiatrist that on a daily bases sees the devastating consequences of bad parenting; regardless of the members of the relationship’s gender. They just don’t get that this is not about gender but about love, guidance, discipline and support.. but hey, we can only try
Pablo
Hi,
I am so glad I found this blog, my mum showed me the article in the mail yesterday and I have been so sad since. My partner and I are in a same sex relationship and we have been living very happly together for 8 years we wanted to share our life with children and started the adoption process last year (we hopefully go to panel in June)I was hoping people had become more tollerant of gay relationships as everyone we have told has been very positive, but the mail just shows that people haven't really changed and that is really upsetting. I am so glad there are others that are on the same road as we are and I hope that in time we can all prove them wrong and our children grow up to be happy healthly adults and one of them chooses to pursue a career in politics! Tx
Hi T,
I'm glad you found it. Good luck with your adoption process.
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