GAY FOSTERING

GAY FOSTERING | The right to foster in a loving family

It's a tough world out there, and going through teenage years can be hard, but when you're in care, it's tougher still.

Inside Out discovers how a gay fostering couple can provide a loving home.

A loving family is all kids want and need. The vast majority of kids in the country are fortunate in having just that.

In most cases, where kids need to go into care, social services will place them within a heterosexual family environment. But is that the right thing to do when the child is gay?

The smiles disguised the anguish of Adam's youth

If he or she wants to be fostered by a homosexual or lesbian couple, does anyone have the right to question it?

Troubled past

London is one of the few places in the UK with an organisation specifically established to locate homes for gay children with gay couples. It's called The Albert Kennedy Trust.

Adam Deane grew up in the Midlands, and by the time he was 12-years-old, he was convinced he was gay.

His early childhood was beset with hostility to his sexuality - his parents blatantly disapproved.

His life became a round of moving from pillar to post, through care and children's homes, eventually ending up being adopted by a local heterosexual family.

Sean and his partner David provide a loving home

It was after running away from this home, and travelling to London, he sought out the Albert Kennedy Trust.

After due consultation, Adam was placed in care with Sean Galligan and David Hirst, a gay couple who he calls his "foster parents".

Adjusting to a new life

At first he had reservations.

Adam says, "I wasn't used to a family atmosphere and the fact that they were gay was strange as well."

Though the family set-up was unusual at first, before long, things couldn't have seemed more normal and comfortable to Adam.

Adam says, "They are my mum and dad as far as I'm concerned, one of them has motherly tendencies and one of them has fatherly."

David regrets nothing

Like all other carers, Sean and David were committed to Adam's welfare when they took on the challenge of caring for a runaway child.

David says, "What we've given him is stability and that sexuality is not the biggest issue in his life, the baggage that came with it is."

Neither Sean or David have any regrets.

And David says he has all the problems of any parent, "Ulcers, grey hair, wrinkles, stress attacks - that's what I get out of it. But also, fun, especially with someone like Adam."

When Adam needed guidance through teenage angst, especially concerning his sexuality, David and Sean were there for him.

Adam says, "I had a bad opinion of who I was and my sexuality before I went to live with them." Adam is now leading a happy life.

Not straight forward

Placing Adam with Sean and David was crucial for his development.

Richards is deeply sceptical of gay fostering

Despite the success of these schemes, the issue of placing children with a gay couple is riddled with controversy.

Many organisations for children completely oppose it, and when asked of the merits of schemes for gay children they express grave concerns.

Jim Richards, of the Catholic Children Society, expresses these concerns, "Children need stability. Same sex couples break up at a higher rate than married couples. That is our concern.

"Young teenagers have their whole lives in front of them. Their views may only be partially formed and we'd need to have a very close discussion with them about how they see their future."

But Sean questions these sentiments, he feels that nobody doubts it when a youngster feels they are straight, "It's automatically 'of course you know your own mind' nobody turns round and says 'Hold on a minute, you might want to think about it, you may be gay or lesbian'."

Adam now sees as well as knows who he really is

None of the 32 London Boroughs have any formal policy action-plan for gay teenagers.

Nor do they have any statistics showing how many gay youngsters they have in their area and looking for foster care.

So, if it can be positively demonstrated that placing gay children with gay families does work - who has that right to put it in doubt?