Throughout the ever changing times in America, there seems to be something that is constant. Ethnocentrism. This is the belief that one's way of life is the only correct way of life, and that if someone is not living in a similar way that they are wrong. Many people seem to think that because people have a different sexual orientation that they must not be worthy of being treated as humans. The foster and adoption systems in America are corrupt with such prejudices and phobias. As a result of this it is not legal in every state in the United States for gays to adopt children. Yet, in the United States alone, there are approximately three hundred ninety-seven thousand children without an enduring, stable family in the foster care systems. This tells me that creating equal opportunity for homosexuals to adopt in the United States will help both the homosexuals that are in need of children, and children that are in need of loving parents. Homosexuals are not disabled just for their sexual orientation, and being gay isn't a mental illness. They're completely normal people, not lacking in any sort of way. They go to school, go to work, have fun. There is no test for becoming a parent for heterosexuals; but rather a good parent should be (isn't always but should be): responsible, loving, caring, and nurturing. Anyone can lack these characteristics, and these are the characteristics that make up a good parent, not sexual orientation. That being said, treating homosexuals as equally as heterosexuals in the adoption and foster care systems throughout America is an important part of developing our society and growing as one. As recently as 2012, there are only twenty states in America that have made it legally possible for homosexuals to adopt and foster. This process is still extremely difficult for them, but it was made legal.Seeing as only fifteen of these twenty states have legally recognized gay couples in ˜civil unions', this made it even more difficult to make these adoption processes legal. (Farrell 3) There are no solid facts against gays being good, healthy parents for children. Let us look at the pros to gays being able to adopt. "Gay parents ˜tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents,' said Abbie Goldberg ¦  (Pappas 1) This is an interesting point, and one could believe that this statement could be taken in different ways. One interpretation of this statement could be that it's true, and homosexuals that are in love and longing to have their ˜American Dream', with a family and children are so excited and motivated to be parents that they are especially thorough. One can not judge someone's ability to parent based on a person's personal sexual orientation. Another way to interpret this statement could be to think "Well, anyone who wants to adopt is choosing to be parents, and they don't have to be gay to be just as motivated.  Part of this quote can be taken as truth as well. Any parent that wants and is choosing to adopt, is motivated and wants to have their American dream as well, so they can be l