I agree absolutely with all of that, but I think that Gays are demanding the name of Marriage as well, and that strategy is causing a lot more resistance to the rights issue. It inflames the religious right and gives conservatives more ammo. This poll tried to focus on the name issue only, but all the equal rights aspects are equally open for debate.

In my opinion the right to adopt children is a much bigger issue than the name. I saw recently a TEDx talk where the speaker was an African American Gay who was obviously a stable, decent person, and already a good father to an admirable son from his failed marriage. He had been denied the right to adopt, and was very bitter about that.

I think that the adoption authorities must always be extremely careful about to whom they give vulnerable children. Being gay should not automatically rule a person out, but all the other criteria should be the same as for straight couples. I can’t help a bias here. I still think that on average a child would do better with both a mother and a father, and that is a worthwhile goal for the authorities, who must consider averages in their policies. I have no proof to offer on this average assumption, it is merely a gut feeling based on my own experience as a child and a parent.

I agree that there will always be exceptions, and the policies should provide for gay adoption with a greater onus being placed on a gay couple to demonstrate that they are one of those exceptions. Natural justice rules should apply, including rights of appeal.