Letter of Introduction Essay Example for Free

Letter of Introduction Essay Dear Chef Blaylock, I want thank you accepting me into this program. Im also very excited to learn new things about cooking. Being in this class will help me a lot later on in my goal of becoming a chef. I cook for my family and friends but I know that there are still a lot of things about cooking that I dont know and would love to learn in this class. see more:want to be a chef I chose to be in this culinary arts program because I know that I want to be a chef when Im older, and I wanted to start my education as soon as I could. I want to be a chef because I would get to cook every day and I can cook so many different things, so I wont be doing the same thing every day. By being in this class I hope to learn how to incorporate different foods together in a good way. I would also like to improve on my knife skills, and overall have a faster pace in cooking things. I like that this class is hands on. Im not very good at taking notes or doing assignments, which makes this program perfect for me because Im cooking almost everyday in here. I dont have a lot of experience in cooking other that me cooking for my family. I watch and helping my mom cook, its interesting because she can get very creative with food, I learn a lot from her. There are many skills I want to gain from being in this class, like the proper way to use knifes and use them fast and effective. I will gain a better perspective on the way things work together in a dish. I will also learn how to cook food properly for someone in a certain amount of time. This class is my favorite part of my day. It makes me excited to wake up in the morning knowing that I can come here and cook food for people to buy and eat. I love that people are eating the food that Im learning on. Knowing that people are eating the food i make puts a smile on my face and keeps me happy throughout the day. My goal is to become an executive chef in a really nice restaurant, so that I can make food for people and share my happiness through the food I make. Sincerly, Robin Komora

Effects of Smoking Cigarettes Essay -- Nicotine Cigarettes Tobacco

The History of Tobacco In 3000 B.C the Ancient Egyptians burnt sweet herbs and frankincense when sacrificing to their gods. This was the beginning of smoking. Then in the beginning of the Christian era smoke was inhaled through the burning fur of a hare, the diagnoses for epilepsy was the inhalation of smoke from a goat's horn and for consumption, smoke inhaled through a reed of dried dung of an ox. Somewhere in the United States was believed to be the birthplace of tobacco, a plant of the genus Nicotiana. How and when it was discovered is unknown (Huron Indian myth has it that in ancient times, when the land was barren and the people were starving, the Great Spirit sent forth a woman to save humanity. As she travelled over the world, everywhere her right hand touched the soil, there grew potatoes. And everywhere her left hand touched the soil, there grew corn. And when the world was rich and fertile, she sat down and rested. When she arose, there grew tobacco). What is certain is that tobacco smoking was practised among the early Mayas, probably in the district of Tabasco, Mexico, as part of their religious ceremonies. The Mayans had no paper to wrap their tobacco in so they wrapped it in palm leaves or cornhusks, and stuffed it into reeds or bamboo. On the other hand they also smoked rolled tobacco leaves as crude cigars. Indians further north made pipes, some with a bowl and mouthpiece, others shaped like a Y, and placed the forked ends into their nostrils. They also blended their tobacco with other herbs and plants to vary the flavour. In South America, the Aztecs smoked and took snuff. Elsewhere in the American continent, tobacco was chewed, eaten, drunk as an in... ...f cigarettes a day. If you want to find out how much an average smoker pays for cigarettes per annum you do this: ÂÂ £4.33 (a packet of cigarettes) ÂÂ ´ 7 (days per week) = ÂÂ £ 30.31 (amount paid for cigarettes a week) ÂÂ £ 30.31 (amount paid for cigarettes a week) ÂÂ ´ 52 (weeks per year) = ÂÂ £1576.12 (amount paid for cigarettes a year) So an average smoker pays approximately ÂÂ £1576.12 a year, so if you take up smoking you are more than likely to spend more than ÂÂ £1500 a year in cigarettes. In the U.K the price of a pack of 20 premium brand cigarettes currently costs ÂÂ £4.33, of which ÂÂ £3.45 (80%) is tax. Thus out of the ÂÂ £1576.12 spent a year by a smoker 80% is taken by the Government, which is ÂÂ £1260.90. This is the main reason why the Government doesn?t ban smoking, because they are making ÂÂ £1260.90 per smoker per year in the U.K.

Is action more important than knowledge Essay

Pablo Picasso once said that, â€Å"Action is the foundational key to all success†. In some ways I must agree with Picasso. To succeed in something of importance and value you must take action and not idle away as action speaks louder than words. Though knowledge is important because in some aspects as you cannot be illiterate about your cause if you wish to succeed. Knowledge is a key aspect of human beings. In order to advance in our society you must gain knowledge. Therefore to take action you must have a basis of information in order to be successful. You should not act in haste or proudness but rather develop your ‘pool of information’ and make an informed decision to acquire your desired results, â€Å"ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven†. Some may say that taking action is more important than acquiring knowledge. They may say that people may spend too much precious time on gaining knowledge and miss there time of action. ‘History does not remember those who were knowledgeable but rather those who took action in a steadfast manner.’ Though I must disagree. History are full of those who carelessly and in alacrity took an ill-informed decision that was destructive on humanity. For example in when Lenin, the first leader of communist Russia died, his testament was not read out in public. This testament would have kicked Stalin out of the Communist Party and therefore would have stopped the mass murder that happened due to Stalin’s orders under his reign. Due to the ill-thought Trotsky and other high members of the Bolsheviks, the decision was to not read out the testament in public. This enabled Stalin to take power and soon Stalin became a despotic leader of the communist parties and created a terror in Soviet Russia as well as the rest of the world. Therefore I believe knowledge is of key importance. This is due to the timeless evidence of how acquiring knowledge is more important than taking knowledge, like the testament of Lenin and this story; There once was a man named Pars. He was thought to be slow as before making every decision he would sit and ponder about the connotations and effects this decision would have on him and his fellow classmates.

Babbit by Sinclair Lewis Essays - 1737 Words

Babbitt: Conformity In the Sinclair Lewis novel Babbitt, the character of Babbitt is completely controlled by the power of conformity. Conformity is so powerful that even after babbitt realizes the stifling nature of the society in which he lives he is powerless to change his fate as a member of conformist society. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;George F. Babbitt is a man who is completely controlled by the conformist society in which he lives. Pressure to conform lies in all aspects of Babbitts life. Relationships, family, social life, and business are all based on his ability to conform to Zeniths preset standards of thought and action. All of Babbitts thoughts are controlled by society. Thoughts that are not those of society are†¦show more content†¦Babbitt does these things in hope of improving his social status. This conformist man is exactly who Sinclair Lewis wanted to show the reader, a man whos life is based on the ideals and standards of others. quot;Villages-overgrown towns-three -quarters of a million people still dressing, eating, building houses, attending church, to make an impression on their neighbors.quot; (Lewis). This is what Lewis thought of American society and he used Babbitt to voice his opinions to his readers. In fact that passage was intended to be included in the original introduction of Babbitt, which was never published. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Babbitt does well in conformist society because in the beginning of the novel he accepts all the standards, goals, ideals, likes, and dislikes of society. Babbitts though mirrors all those around him and he is therefore accepted in society. At first Babbitt lives in the illusion of happiness. The happiness Babbitt experiences is not genuine because he has replaced his desires with those of society. Since Babbitt is controlled by society his goals are also controlled by it. The goals set by society are economic and material worth, social standing, and conservative thought. Since Babbitt has achieved, at least in part, these goals he is in a sense fooled into believing he is truly happy. Babbitts true desires however are not those of society he dreams of nature instead of modernization, young women instead of hisShow MoreRelated Conspicuous Consumption in Sinclair Lewis Babbit Essay1941 Words   |  8 PagesConspicuous Consumption in Sinclair Lewis Babbit      Ã‚   The idea of conspicuous consumption, or buying unnecessary items to show ones wealth, can be seen in Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.   Lewis describes the main character of the book, George F. Babbitt, as a person who has his values and priorities all mixed up.   Babbitt buys the most expensive and modern material goods just to make himself happy and make people around his aware of his status.   He is more concerned about these items thanRead More The 20s And Sinclair Lewis Essay1646 Words   |  7 Pages The theme in books by Sinclair Lewis1 relates to the time in which they were written. In both Babbit (1922) and Main Street (1920) Lewis shows us the American culture of the 1920s. He writes about the growing cities, the small towns, the common American man, the strong American need to conform, cultural integration, morals (or lack of in some cases), and he touches upon the women lib movement. All of these and more successfully describe the 1920s. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; quot;The partiesRead MoreSocietys Influence on the American Dream1202 Words   |  5 Pagesrather than pleasing himself. Paralleling Fullers quotation, Sinclair Lewis Babbit is a satirical portrayal of a man in search of himself enveloped by a society of hypocrisy . George F. Babbit, a middle class man, struggles to find social mobility and beatitude. Babbit overlooks the essential items of life and concentrates his attention towards material goals and impressing the upper class. Due to the loss of his best friend, Babbit realizes his life has no meaning and rebels against societysRead More Babbit Essay1088 Words   |  5 PagesBabbit The depressing tragedy known as Babbitt, by Lewis Sinclair, accurately portrays the convention of life in the 1920’s. Sinclair precisely evokes the conformity and orthodox life styles that shaped a growing culture. Man, in the 1920’s, is caught in a lifestyle where he is continually fed on what to think. Lewis cunningly explains the constraints of convention that plagued George Babbitt, and mocks society as a whole for its lack of liberal views. Babbitt throughout the novel seems to beRead More Superiority of Races in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt Essay example2147 Words   |  9 PagesSuperiority of Races in Babbit      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hatred, intolerance, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness are all terms that can be applied when describing someone who is a bigot.   By these terms George F. Babbitt, the protagonist in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt, and many of his acquaintances are quite the bigots toward all those that appear different than he is especially immigrants and minorities in America.   The blame should not be placed squarely on these mens shoulders for possessing such hate

Essay on The Character of Gertrude in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, presents ten male characters for every one female character. The only prominent female characters are two: Ophelia, Laertes’ sister and Polonius’ daughter; and Gertrude, the queen and wife of Claudius and mother of Hamlet. This essay will explore the character, role, and importance of Gertrude. Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, is apparently disturbed by her son’s appearance in solemn black at the gathering of the court, and she requests of him: Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for ever with thy vailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou knowst tis common; all that lives†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"So lust, though to a radiant angel linkd, / Will sate itself in a celestial bed,/And prey on garbage.† This revelation shows Gertrude’s complex temperament and motivation and renders her much more rounded in the dramatist’s development of her (Abrams 33). The ghost asks the protagonist to disregard revenge on Gertrude: â€Å"Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive / Against thy mother aught,† and to leave her â€Å"to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, / To prick and sting her.† Gertrude has a contrasting character in the person of Ophelia, who is the picture of purity and innocence. Ophelia obeys her very morally and socially conservative father, Polonius, in every detail, even to the extent of giving him her love-letters from Hamlet; unlike Gertrude, who brazenly violates her marriage vow, then breaks social conventions in marrying within a month of her first husband’s funeral, and incestuously marrying her husband’s brother. Though Gertrude and Ophelia contrast morally, they are close socially; the queen confides in Ophelia: â€Å"And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish / That your good beauties be the happy cause / Of Hamlet’s wildness.† Gertrude shares the duties of state with her husband, presiding alongside Claudius before visiting dignitaries, and getting involved with the humdrum daily activities like Hamlet’s courtship of Ophelia. When Polonius and ClaudiusShow MoreRelatedThe Character of Gertrude in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pages    The character of Gertrude in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is not a woman for emulation by others. She is too human, and not very intelligent. Let’s consider her in this essay.    Mary Bradford-Whiting, in her article â€Å"Mothers in Shakespeare† compares the mother of Juliet to the mother of Hamlet:    Juliet has a mother, to whose heart of stone she appeals in vain:    . . . O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! [Romeo and Juliet, III.v.198]    Hamlet has a motherRead More The Character of Gertrude in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay535 Words   |  3 PagesThe Character of Gertrude  in Shakespeares Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is tempting to condemn Gertrude as evil, but it is probably more sensible to consider her as weak and inconstant. Hamlets heartfelt line Frailty, thy name is woman sums up his view of her actions early in the play. Like many of Shakespeares women characters, she is sketched in rather than drawn in detail. We know that she has a deep affection for her son, which is commented on by Claudius in Act 4 The Queen, his mother, livesRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Gertrude in William Shakespeares Hamlet1404 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Hamlet: Argumentative Essay Introduction The purpose of this essay is to analyze the role of Gertrude in Hamlet, which is counted as one of the famous plays of English language (Thompson and Neil Taylor 74) and the most popular work of Shakespeare (Wells and Stanton 1). This essay will evaluate the role of Gertrude, who was the mother of Prince Hamlet and also the title character of the play. Thesis Statement: Gertrude, the wife of late King Hamlet was disloyal to her husband and also responsibleRead MoreAn Analysis of Queen Gertrudes Position in King Hamlets Death in William Shakespeares Hamlet1056 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of Queen Gertrudes Position in King Hamlets Death in William Shakespeares Hamlet Usually in a playwright, one of the authors objectives is to keep the viewer or reader confused or disconcerted about certain events in the plot. Certain characters in a play or story that have concocted covert schemes to perhaps murder or frame somebody, may have confusing effects on the viewer. Depending on the way the plan was developed in the plot the viewer may have to stop and ask themselves;Read MoreHamlet Tragedy Of The Mother And Son1137 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet-Tragedy of the Mother and Son William Shakespeare is a writer of tragedies—the tragedies within common everyday relationships. Of these various relationships, Shakespeare reveals his interest in the relationship between the mother and son within Hamlet. The mother: Queen Gertrude, and the son: Prince Hamlet is unique within the play because Hamlet’s relationship with his mother is rare in the sense that Gertrude is one of two women within Hamlet. And like the other woman, Gertrude is submergedRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1178 Words   |  5 Pages In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the protagonist suffers from struggles with major characters, especially with the women in his life. While reading the play Hamlet, Hamlet appears to be a disillusioned man. Throughout the play, Shakespeare has only casted two females: Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is defined to be incestuous, naà ¯ve and cold-hearted. On the other side, Ophelia is characterized to be ignorant, innocent and fearful. After the quick marriage of his mother and evil uncle, Hamlet’sRead MoreAn Honest Representation Of The Liar1650 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Liar: Gertrude Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, has long been the victim of dissection by English professors and their students. Its multi-faceted plot and sheer length make it a ripe specimen for analysis about nearly anything, given the right spin, but particularly present in this work, and differing from Shakespeare’s usual focal point, is the role of minor characters. While in his other plays the name Messenger is given to one whose sole role is to be a messenger, Hamlet gives full characterRead MoreHamlet and Play Essay1048 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet Essay The act of revenge never fails to accomplish Shakespeare’s goal of keeping the audience in their seats. Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s most well written play carries the theme of revenge or redemption throughout the play. Redemption is defined to be as the desire to undo an injury or a wrongdoing. Many characters felt that they needed to redeem themselves however in doing so, they ended up facing death. For some characters, revenge had sprouted from their urges to redeem themselvesRead MoreHamlet Prequel To Hamlet Analysis885 Words   |  4 PagesI thoroughly enjoyed Shakespeare’s Hamlet when our class first read the book in Mr. Allegretti’s class.The interactions and the emotions of the characters were very interesting to me. That’s why when Mr. Simonds recommended Gertrude And Claudius to the class, I became interested in the book when he said it was an unofficial prequel to Hamlet made by a different author. Gertrude And Claudius serves as a pre quel to Hamlet and is centered around Princess Gertrude’s point of view. This prequel worksRead MoreEssay about Portrayal of Women in Shakespeares Hamlet 1227 Words   |  5 PagesWomen in Shakespeares Hamlet  Ã‚   Shakespeare was possibly the first writer to portray women as strong, crafty, and intelligent. However, he has still received criticism from feminists about his representation of women. Some have even accused him of misogyny. There are only two female characters in the play Hamlet - Gertrude, Hamlets mother and Ophelia, daughter of Polonius. Any debate based upon gender roles must therefore focus upon these two characters. Shakespeare portrays Gertrude as a

Portrayal of Class in 2 Broke Girls - 1867 Words

Analysis of the portrayal of class in an American TV series Contemporary class differences should not longer cause problems in social life. As differences between high class and low class members are growing, difficulties in communication expand at the same measure. The US sitcom â€Å"2 Broke Girls†, produced by Michael Patrick King in 2011, tackles these issues and creates a TV series, which is not as funny as it is expected from a comic sitcom, and therefore criticizes not only sitcoms of that genre in general, but also the American class system. As the sitcom is playing today, in an America of the economical crisis, it also tries to deal with the question how to create a stable market. Therefore â€Å"2 Broke Girls† (2011) shows a utopia of†¦show more content†¦In this episode, Caroline realizes that she needs a bite guard, after biting into an apple and seeing the dental imprint. As she cannot offer to pay her old dentist, Max takes her to a practice in the underground, which is seedy and dirty, and Caroline flees after a few minutes. The fact that she actually knows which of her teeth needs care, pictures her knowledge in things, which Max would never even think of. Her priorities in life differ immensely from those of Max, as Max has not even been to a dentist for years. Obviously, Caroline cannot simply oversee her dental problems and therefore decides to brake into her old home (which is under security observation), to get her bite guard. When she enters with Max through the window of her dressing room, Max is so excited about the luxuriousness and the immense amount of clothes, that she decides to stay a bit longer to take a bath in Caroline’s whirlpool-bath tube. These scenes do not only prove Max’s and Caroline’s completely different lifestyles, but also their attitude towards things which are important in life, and which are nonsense. Another example, is also Caroline’s shoe cabinet, which can be moved by using a remote control, and looks as a gigantic gril l for chicken. Caroline designed it on her own, which is completely incomprehensible forShow MoreRelatedMain Action Of The Mona Lisa Smile859 Words   |  4 Pagesthe norm! I believe the main action of the film was disruption. When I say disruption, I mean coming in and breaking the rules. Julia Roberts (Katherine Watson) played a professor that came into a new school and changed the way of learning. 2. Did you like the movie? Why or why not? - I loved this film! While watching The Mona Lisa Smile, I quickly caught on that these students didn’t have their own mindset or free thinking. The school and their parents went as far as to teach them how toRead MoreAmerican Cheerleader: The Icon, The Stereotype, and The Truth1525 Words   |  7 Pageseyed sex symbol? Is she a drug-addicted girl with no brains and even fewer moral values? Maybe she is just your average, pretty, girl-next-door with a loud voice and lots of spirit. What is clearly true is that cheerleading and cheerleaders have evolved greatly over a century-long history. What started as one bold college student has turned into an activity with over 3 million participants (Brady 1); one that is backed by a $150 million industry (Williams 2). Modern cheerleading has come a long wayRead MoreImpact Of The Internet On Public Sphere Essay1619 Words   |  7 Pages(consumers) had also played its own role in shaping the way in which individuals and collectives app ropriate, consume, engage, or just navigate online. In Latin America, there still is an unequal access to technologies and lack of literacy on it. Indeed, class, gender, and age still matter in order to how much connected people are (Godoy Gronemeyer, 2012). There are more than 170 million of online users in Latin America, which represents a 17 percent globally. Almost 70 million corresponds to BrazilianRead MoreHigh School High Homecoming Dance Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagesawkwardly) to Soulja Boy when the DJ announced that the next song would be a slow dance–the first of the night. The tension in the room could be cut with a plastic butter knife. To make matters worse, the DJ thought it would be a great idea to have the girls ask the boys to slow dance. At this point, my twelve year old self was shaking in her Ugg boots and sweating through her plaid button down from Hollister. Seventh grade was an awkward year for me; I was taller than most of the boys and not quite yetRead MoreGender Roles Of A Doll House By Henrik Ibse n1706 Words   |  7 Pageswritten as mothers or wives, exhibiting flaws that made them inferior to their male counterparts. Aristophanes broke this trend with his feminist driven comedy Lysistrata. The Greek playwright built complicated, female characters who actively mocked the stereotype of being doting wives and lovers. Additionally, male roles were always heroic or deviant, with no in between. The portrayal of men and women in dramatic works was one-dimensional with little acknowledgement of the characteristics whichRead MoreEssay about Full House: How It Represents the Late 80s/Early 90s4461 Words   |  18 Pagesmulticultural era of the eighties to the postnetwork era of the nineties triggered abrupt changes in American media and culture. [6] From fashions to family life, relationships, and attitudes, many new cultural elements subsequently changed television portrayals of ordinary American culture within this time period. More specifically, the culture of the eighties is often characterized by the rise of MTV and megastars, techno music and club drugs, and popular fashions such as leather, leggings, and Ray BansRead MoreMedia Portrayal of Mental Illness in America4048 Words   |  17 PagesMedia Portrayal of Mental Illness in America The media in American society has a major influential impact on the minds and beliefs of millions of people. Whether through the news, television shows, or film, the media acts as a huge database for knowledge and instruction. It is both an auditory and visual database that can press images and ideas into peoples minds. Even if the individual has no prior exposure or knowledge to something, the media can project into peoples minds and leave a lastingRead MoreEssay on Media Portrayal of Mental Illness in America3893 Words   |  16 Pages Media Portrayal of Mental Illness in America The media in American society has a major influential impact on the minds and beliefs of millions of people. Whether through the news, television shows, or film, the media acts as a huge database for knowledge and instruction. It is both an auditory and visual database that can press images and ideas into peoples minds. Even if the individual has no prior exposure or knowledge to something, the media can project into peoples minds and leave a lastingRead MoreTo Kill a Mocking Bird Reflection2428 Words   |  10 Pagesme are as follows. Sexism (the unfair prejudice against someone because of their sex), ageism (the pre conceived idea that they are not worthy due to someones age), socio economic prejudice (the discrimination against someone due to their wealth/class/job place in society etc) and last but not least racism (the prejudice targeted towards someone because of their racial background, whether that be white, negro, Asian etc). Personally prejudice to me is one of the most hu rtful and intolerant actionsRead MoreFlorence Nightingale and her contribution to nursing2181 Words   |  9 Pagesnurse, was dirty, fat, and old and also a drunk, which was like most nurses of those days before Nightingale. One can say that because of this, nursing was not seen as a highly regarded profession. Source A supports the view of Mrs Gamp being a true portrayal of nurses in the 1800s. It is an article from the Telegraph by Robbie Collin, he is writing about the character Mrs Gamp and he says â€Å"Dickens wrote that Mrs Gamp was, ‘four-and-twenty years ago, a fair representation of the hired attendant on the

Gay and Lesbian Parenting Essay Example For Students

Gay and Lesbian Parenting Essay In the last decade there has been a rise n the number of lesbians and gay men forming their own families. Many do this through adoption, foster care, artificial insemination, and other means. Today, researchers have estimated that the number of children living with one gay or lesbian parent is six to fourteen million. Some have described this current period as a lesbian and gay baby boom. However, lesbian and gay parents face many social and legal obstacles (Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 1997). In the past, most gay and lesbian parents lived secretive and protective lives. Not only did gay parents have to face his or her coming out issues and separation from spouse, but also face coming out to their children. Because more and more lesbian and gay families choose to have children, they are also more out about whom they are. This means that they are showing up in fertility clinics for information about attempting pregnancy, they are coming to adoption agencies stating clearly the nature of their family, they are going to attorneys for information on second parent same-sex adoption, and they are going to PTA meetings and little league games with the same enthusiasm as other parents (Lev, 2002 p.2). Many of the children parented by lesbians and gay men were born to them when they were in a heterosexual relationship or marriage. Often, when the childs non-gay parent discovers the sexual identity of the other parent, he or she may attempt to limit their parenting roles. Other challenges have been brought upon by other relatives or government agencies, thus causing prejudice towards gay and lesbian parents and denying custody and visitation rights (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1997-2002). The child custody and visitation legal standards vary from state to state. For example, twenty-one states have granted second-parent adoptions to lesbian and gay couples. This enables the child to have the equal opportunity of having two legal parents, especially if one dies. Today, the majority of states no long deny custody or visitation based on sexual orientation. Now, courts apply the notion best interest of the child, when it comes to deciding cases based upon this. Thus, ones sexual orientation cannot be the basis for denying or limiting parent-child relationships, in most states (The American Civil Liberties Union, 1999). Although things seem to be coming along more and more, ones sexual orientation may have drawbacks. A few states, which rely on the myths and stereotypes, have uses ones sexual orientation to deny custody, adoption, visitation and foster care. For example, Florida and New Hampshire have laws that forbid lesbians and gay men from adopting children. Some instances have shown how ones sexual orientation is used to their disadvantage, such as in Sharon Bottoms case. In a notorious 1993 decision, a court in Virginia took away Sharon Bottoms two-year old son simply because of her sexual orientation, and transferred custody to the boys maternal grandmother. And Arkansas has just adopted a policy prohibiting lesbians, gay men, and those who live with them, from serving as foster parents (American Civil Liberties Union, 1999, p.1). Issues of parenting are not the only difficulties that gay and lesbian parents face. Others include the right to a legal marriage, which enables them to have the same rights and laws as opposite-sex couples. The Netherlands became the first to issue legal marriage to same-sex couples on April 1, 2001. These marriage licenses are only offered to its legal citizens and residents. No other state or country in the world allows same-sex marriages. Although many churches marry same-sex couples, ceremonial marriages provide no civil laws and carry no legal benefits or responsibilities. Same-sex couples are considered to be legal strangers, thus, Federal laws regarding marriage does not cover them. It still remains uncertain when same-sex couples will be able to get a legal marriage license. Suits for legal marriages began in the United States in 1971 (Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples, 2002). .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .postImageUrl , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:hover , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:visited , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:active { border:0!important; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:active , .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucf2b2a65e856065831cf528d0a37f53f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: No Future Essay Although same-sex couples remain in the fight for their rights to be legally married, one of the best rulings came from the Vermont State Supreme Court on December 20, 1999. Their final ruling stated that, Same-sex couples must be .