Adoption options for gay couples

Navigating the LGBTQ+ Adoption Process

Over the past several decades, more LGBTQ+ couples possess chosen adoption to flourish their families. The United States Census reports  that between 2 and million children under the age of 18 have an LGBTQ+ parent, that same-sex parents are more than 6 times as likely to become foster parents and more than 4 times more likely to pursue adoption as a path to parenthood.

Choosing the type of adoption that’s right for your family

When it’s time to resolve what kind of adoption is right for your family, you have a lot to consider.  There are three main types of adoption to pursue: domestic infant adoption, international adoption, and foster nurture adoption. Let’s explore all three.

Domestic Infant Adoption for LGBTQ+ Families

In the United States, LGBTQ+ couples and individuals may pursue domestic infant adoptions in all 50 states. However, some states have recently passed faith-based adoption legislation which makes adoption more challenging.  If you are considering a domestic infant adoption, it is important to elect an adoption agency or profes

What is Gay Adoption and How Does it Work?

If you’re an LGBT individual who wants children, whether you’re in a relationship or not, you may wonder what options are available to you. Fortunately, if you’re considering a same-sex adoption as a way to add to your family, know that this is more a possibility for you today than it ever has been.

As perceptions of family change and expand over time, gay and lesbian adoption has become increasingly common. Many of the barriers that once existed for same-sex couples adopting in the U.S. no longer do, which means that you have the same options for adopting that any heterosexual couple does. People have begun to realize that it doesn’t matter what a family looks like — just as long as they can provide adore and support forever to a child they welcome into their lives through adoption. So, if you are hoping to expand your family as a same-sex couple, then adoption is certainly an option for you.

So, what is gay adoption? A same-sex adoption is just what it sounds like: any kind of adoption completed when the prospective parents involved are

What’s an LGBT adoption agency?

As of , it’s illegal to ban same-sex couples from adopting. Technically, then, LGBT couples can perform with any adoption agency they wish, provided that can meet each agency’s requirements, which may add marriage.  This does not mean, however, that all adoption agencies are gay-friendly adoption agencies.

LGBT adoption agencies are professionals that are not only ready and excited to help same-sex couples adopt, but they should also have experience with doing so successfully in the past. When looking at adoption professional websites, you’ll want to look for inclusive language. If the agency has posted profiles of hopeful adoptive families, look at how many of the couples are same-sex couples. It’s also a excellent idea to ask some LGBT-specific questions, such as:

  • What counseling or support verb you offer for LGBT parents?
  • Have you successfully worked with LGBT couples before? How many?
  • What’s the estimated wait time for same-sex couples? For heterosexual couples?

Just because any adoption agency can technically complete an adoption for you (a

LGBT International Adoption: Is it Possible?

While joint LGBT adoption is now legal in the United States, some same-sex couples are drawn to an international gay adoption instead. Whether this is due to a desire to adopt a child living in an orphanage who is desperately in need of a family, a desire to adopt a child of another culture, or simply because of an interest in adopting a foreign-born child, they decide that an LGBT international adoption is what’s right for them.

However, whether you’ve decided on this kind of adoption or are still considering it, it’s vital to recognize that there will be challenges with a gay international adoption that you would not have during a domestic child adoption. Over the past decade, many foreign countries have started restricting international adoptions for all couples. If you’re an LGBT couple, your options will be even more limited, as not many countries are as progressive as the U.S. is for LGBT adoption rights.

As with any other adoption process, it’s important that you fully research an international gay adoption to decide wheth