Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

And do you think their adoptions get pushed through faster? If so, does that bother you?

My mom was telling me that Meg Ryan was on Oprah yesterday and talked a little about adopting a little girl from China recently, plus with Angelina being such a high profile adoptor, I was wondering how everyone felt it affected the system. I don't know enough to really judge, but it seems like at least in Angelina's case, she is so loving with her kids that it would be a positive. But it does drive me nuts that in every article they have to mention that they are adopted children, as if that means they aren't as good as any children these celebs have naturally.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

I have kind of mixed feelings about this topic. On one hand I do not want celebrities adopting babies/children just because it is the trend now or a "hip" thing to do. Then on the other hand, they are bringing awareness to adoption which may help my child feel alittle more "mainstream" later on in life. I think it comes down to who the celeb is and how they handle the adoption questions.

And I do not beleive that they get special treatment or anything expeditied because they are a celeb. I beleive they have to wait in line just like the rest of us

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

Angelina has helped ethiopian adoption sooo much. I am glad that she did it. The program wait times have increased..which means more couples are adopting the children. And honestly there are more than 2million orphans so we need all the families we can get.

I believe that they go thru the same system we all go through for an international adoption. Domestic adoption I believe they are pushed to the front of the line. But they all need to be fingerprinted, have a homestudy etc...there is very little ability to rush that stuff.

I find it totally disrespectful that reporters/interviews comment on "adopted" children all the time. They do this to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman too. It is unfair to the children IMO. They are their children...not their adopted children.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

Like Michele said there are just soooo many children that need homes. Any positive attention on international adoption is good.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

I agree with the other posters. I couldn't be more pleased with the fact that high-profile celebs have recently adopted bc it's increasing awareness. I also agree that they shouldn't focus so much on the fact that they're adopted .. but hey, publicity is publicity. They also comment on everything else in their lives.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

Thank you, it's interesting to hear from people who are in the process. I'm glad to see that you also feel it's a positive for the most part.

I didn't realize the process for domestic and international adoptions were so different.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

They are 2 VERY different systems.
In Domestic Adoption birthparents have all of the rights
In International Adoption the gov't controls the adoption process.

Re: Do you think that celeb adoptions help or hurt the public's impression of adoption?

I think so far it's been good. Over the years there has been so much stigma surrounded adoption, and I hope it opens up and people can talk about it and understand it. If all of this celebrity adoption makes a few people think "hey, maybe I would like to adopt" then it's a good thing.