Gay Adoption Information

Gay couples can adopt children in most states.

Bringing a child into your home and raising it as your own can be a life-changing experience. Although it once was rare, gay and lesbian couples are now adopting with more frequency. Many adoption agencies allow homosexual couples to be considered as adoptive parents. The practice is currently outlawed in three states.

States

State laws in Mississippi, Utah and Florida specifically prohibit homosexual couples from adopting a child. In Michigan and Arkansas, couples, whether homosexual or heterosexual, are not allowed to adopt unless they are married.
Other states grant adoptions to homosexual couples and individuals. Those states include Alabama,California, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, Ohio, New York, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington, Rhode Island, Vermont, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Prevelence

Surveys conducted by the government show that many homosexual couples are already raising children. About 65,500 children have been adopted by a homosexual parent, according to an Urban Institute study. One out of every six gay men has adopted a child or fathered a child, according to the study. More than 2 million homosexual couples have expressed interest in adopting children, the study found.

Agency Adoption

Several adoption agencies will consider gay couples for adoption. If you are unsure if an agency will consider gay couples, look for their mission statement. It should include a phrase that says it does not discriminate based on gender orientation or sexual preference. The National Adoption Center advocates that adoption agencies consider all couples.

Distribution

California has been the state with the most homosexual couples adopting children, according to the Urban Institute. More than 16,000 homosexual homes have an adoptive child living in them. That is followed by New York, with more than 7,000 homes. Massachusetts, Texas and Washington also have a high number of homes with homosexual adoptive parents.

Changing Attitudes

More of the public has gradually come to accept gay adoption, according to a 2006 Pew Research Center Poll, according to CNN. During that poll, 46 percent of respondents said they supported adoption rights for gays and lesbians. In 1999, only 38 percent of people said they support it. Some social conservative organizations, such as Focus on the Family, continue to oppose it.

References

• Human Rights Campaign Website: Where Is Adoption by LGBT Parents Prohibited Under Law?
• Human Rights Campaign Website: Where Have LGBT Adoptions Been Permitted Under Law?
• The Urban Institute Website: Adoption and Foster Care by Gay and Lesbian Parents in the United States
• National Adoption Center Website: The Facts About LGBT Adoption
• CNN Website: Gay adoption: A new take on the American family