Mexico has become the first Latin American city to allow same sex couples to marry and have the same rights as heterosexual couples, the final vote was 39 for and 20 against. An additional ruling confirmed that same sex couples would also be able to adopt children. The decision has seen an increase in pressure in other parts of the continent such as Chile and Argentina as gay and lesbian couples demand when it will be legal for them to marry.

It’s not all positive news, this decision has ignited a furious backlash from the church who condemned the law as immoral and abhorrent and it seems whilst some were open to the legality of same sex marriage, adopting a child is another matter. The Mexican newspaper El Universal posted a discussion bulletin on the subject and received over 1,000 comments mainly opposed to the idea.

Personally I think the world is ready for same sex couples to have the opportunity to adopt a child or children, there are very stringent checks and a long process before custody is granted as there are with heterosexual couples. Is it that living with a same sex couple would be worse for a child than living in a children’s home, how many of these children have been abused, neglected and psychologically damaged over the years?

It’s interesting talking with gay friends, they too have a mixed opinion about whether its right for same sex couples to be able to adopt, its not that they feel the child wouldn’t have a loving home but concern if society is ready to accept same sex couples with children. They were particularly worried with how the child would be perceived at school – children can be cruel at the best of times, would they get an adverse reaction from pupils and their parents?

What do you think? Are you a same sex couple that has adopted – what kind of issues have you faced?