What Constitutes "Family"?

A family is commonly described as a man and a woman and their descendants. We as a society accept blended families, interracial families, mixed nationality families, etc. They can adopt children, file for child support, and claim each other on taxes. In most parts of this great country we call the land of freedom, a marriage is between a man and a woman and only male and female couples are acceptable parents. A homosexual in this country can be part of a family, but is condemned by many if they attempt to start another branch on the family tree.

I would dare to bet that most Americans give little thought to what happens in some states of this union when a mother is found to be a lesbian. In the state of Florida, if the father of a child proves that the mother of his child is engaging in lesbian activities, custody can be fully transferred to the father. It often happens just that way, for that reason alone. A mother can make a six figure annual income, own her own home, have had the same job for 20 years, perfect credit, and treat her child like a spoiled brat, and still lose her child because she is a lesbian. Yet a heterosexual woman with no job, living in an abusive relationship in a motel room, and a criminal record would be awarded custody of her child because she is the mother.

Even more complication to this social problem, many times in a lesbian family there is no named biological father. The grandparent of that child can sue for custody on the same grounds. Furthermore, as in too many cases with both hetero and homo couples, that child can end up in foster care or an orphanage where it can then only be adopted by a heterosexual couple. Homosexual couples are prohibited from adopting children in most states. I personally know women who would rather adopt than conceive artificially. But they can't because the law prohibits it!