LGBT News Slovak parents fail to block adoption by gay couple

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BBC News - Slovak parents fail to block adoption by gay couple

Seems like a victory for common sense.

Whilst I appreciate the argument that the adoption may cause a little alienation from the childrens roots ultimately:
1. You would hope by the time the kids were old enough to retrace their heritage same-sex relationships would be more accepted in Roma culture and in Slovakia. I'll admit, from what I know about LGBT rights in Slovakia it will be slow progress but it will surely be better in another 10 years.
2. The natural parents had their chance and blew it. If they could not even provide a safe and loving home for their children then they can hardly blame a gay couple (who actually want children) for corrupting their kids.

When you have the option of having a child beaten, abused and neglected but "maintaining their heritage" v being safe, loved and nurtured but potentially having some confusion as to their heritage in adulthood surely the latter is the lesser of two evils.

 

They could be, I myself know some lovely Slovakian parents who are absolute shining examples of parents.

However in this case the overwhelming evidence suggests these people are not suitable parents. Allowing childhood truancy, lack of physical care for the children, the father admitting beating the children. And after all that was brought to light the parents sound like they have not attempted to change their ways.

To me it speaks volumes that there main grievance here is the children going to a gay couple, not the fact they were taken away from them. If the priority of their concerns was the other way round I would have more sympathy. Given this I think the decision to take these children into care is the right choice here.

 

Obviously Roma, Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities do face discrimination here, there is no denying that. However in this case, that added scrutiny has potentially saved two kids.

Of course there are great parents within these communities but I think there is also an added risk to the children where families do move a lot - particularly from the lack of consistent schooling. Now I only really have direct experience of the Irish Traveller community but it is naive to imagine violence and poor-educational standards aren't a greater risk for that particular community. Now I'm not saying all Traveller children should be removed from their parents, just that we should not turn a blind eye or give a wide-berth for fear of political incorrectness. The safety of children should always be the main priority.

Now in an ideal world yes, children taken into care should be moved into homes that share a common culture if possible (to ensure a smoother transition for the children and a greater support network in adulthood). However at the same time we should not be pandering to homophobic beliefs and practices. I think it would almost be hypocritical for society to say homosexuality is fine, healthy and legal, and then decide to give priority in adoption to straight parents "so not to harm the kids" (it sends out a very negative message). We either accept it fully or not at all.