Newswise — While Spanish-speaking telenovelas (TV Soap Operas) may be a bit over the top when it comes to love, passion, conflicts and families, they also reflect real life and society " including recent story lines about gay parenting. With recent studies showing that Latino gay and lesbian couples have higher adoption rates than other same-sex couples, it's no coincidence that gay adoption has appeared in two recent novelas, "Barreras de Amor" (The Barriers of Love), and "Amar Sin Limites" (To Love Without Limits).
"The trend in telenovelas of portraying gay and lesbian couples with adopted children is a cultural phenomenon and an extension of how gays and lesbians are carrying 'La Familia' - the utmost Latino cultural value - into their lifestyles," said Dr. Eduardo Morales, Ph.D., Professor of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Alliant International University, San Francisco Campus.
Recent Statistics from New York's National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute and National Latino/a Coalition for Justice underscore the trend with key findings of same-sex couples in Florida:"¢ Male same-sex couples where both partners are Hispanic raise children at more than three times the rate (58%) than white non-Hispanic male same-sex couples (19%)."¢ Female same-sex couples in which both partners are Hispanic raise children at more than twice the rate (66%) of white non-Hispanic female same-sex couples (32%)."¢ More Hispanic female same-sex couples (54%) report raising at least one child under the age of 18, compared to Hispanic married opposite-sex couples (70%) and Hispanic cohabiting opposite-sex couples (59%).
"Some of these cases include people who were previously married and had children before entering into a gay lifestyle," Dr. Morales said.
While some states are grappling with legislative issues related to gay parenting, the reality is that a growing number of lesbians and gay men are becoming parents and living as families every day. Beyond the fray of soundbites and blogs, research has revealed that family stability, nurturing and love are far more important to the health of adoptive children than gender roles or family stereotypes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (2000) recommends that social workers ask one key question in making placement decisions that will be in the child's best interest: "Is this couple (or person) caring, nurturing, and sensitive to others?"
Alliant's Rockway Institute has disseminated psychological studies that reveal key factors that can make gay/lesbian couples better parents than some straight couples " or can at least provide healthy examples in the area of child-rearing: Gay parents (1) often use softer communication of feelings in conflict situations, and (2) the parents use more equally nurturing behaviors toward one another and their children.
Recently, the Williams and Urban Institutes released an updated study, "Adoption and Foster Care by Lesbian and Gay Parents in the United States" combining data from a number of reliable sources. It found that
"¢ More gay men (52%) and lesbians (41%) express the desire to have a child than heterosexual and bisexual men (33%)."¢ Approximately 65,000 adopted children are being raised by lesbian or gay parents, accounting for more than 4% of all adopted children in the United States. "¢ Same-sex couples of color adopt children of color at a higher rate than married heterosexual couples."¢ On average, same-sex couples raising adopted children are older more (formally) educated, and have more economic resources than other adoptive parents.
The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) San Francisco campus offers extensive training in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender psychology (LGBT). "In my work at CSPP and as Executive Director of AGUILAS, an HIV prevention program, I strive to integrate LGBT cultural concepts into the fabric of the psychological services and interventions we provide," said Dr. Morales. Alliant International University's Latino Achievement Initiative (LAI) also specializes in higher education access and success for the traditionally underserved Latino population, as well as offering expertise about Latinos to other students, academic communities and the media throughout the U.S. About Dr. Eduardo Morales Dr. Eduardo Morales is a Professor of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), an affiliate of Alliant's Rockway Institute and Executive Director of AGUILAS in San Francisco. In 1978, Dr. Morales organized the first symposium on Latino gay and lesbian issues ever held in a professional conference at the second Coalition of Spanish-Speaking Mental Health Organizations (COSSMHO) conference held in Houston, Texas. He also organized the first symposium on gay and lesbian people of color at the 1983 APA convention. Dr. Morales is active in developing community health programs, especially in San Francisco and in 1984, he helped found and was the first director of what is now known as the University of California at San Francisco AIDS Health Program. He was also one the founders and principal investigators of the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) and led the Multicultural Inquiry and Research on AIDS (MIRA), the first ethnic minority team of scientists in the US to generate studies on the prevention of HIV in communities of color.
About Alliant International UniversityFounded in 2001, Alliant International University is a non-profit university that prepares students for professional careers in psychology, education, business and forensics. Alliant offers mentored field experiences and individual coaching that allows students to develop hands-on professional skills and practical experience with clients. An exceptionally diverse faculty and student body provides graduates to learn to work productively with colleagues and clients from different cultural and international backgrounds. US News and World Report ranked Alliant #1 in international diversity among national doctoral universities. According to Diverse Magazine, Alliant awarded more doctorate degrees to minority students than any other US university. With headquarters in San Francisco and San Diego, Alliant also has campuses in Fresno, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento and locations; it also hosts accredited programs in Mexico City, Mexico; Hong Kong, China and Tokyo, Japan.
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