Gay Adoption Statistics

     Gay people have been adopting for many years, but today in some places, it is done openly.  In the past, usually one partner would adopt, and the other partner would pretend to be a friend or roommate.  This has recently become a legislative fight.  Starting in 1985, several states began forbidding discrimination against gays who were attempting to adopt.  Those states included California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.

Current Statistics Include:

• Approximately 2 million gay and lesbian people want to adopt children.

• Around 65,000 adopted children are living with a gay or lesbian parent.

• The state with the most children living with gay or lesbian parents is California, where there are at least 16,000 children of gay and lesbian adoptions.

• Approximately four percent of all adopted children are being raised by gay and lesbian parents.

• It is more likely that gay parents adopt younger children and the likelihood of them being from foreign countries is higher.

There are several types of Adoption and Guardianship that may be appropriate for gay couples.

1. Single (Individual) Adoption:  In this form of adoption, an unmarried person adopts a child that is eligible for adoption.

2. Joint Adoption:  An unmarried couple petitions for adoption.

3. Second Parent Adoption:  One parent already has legal rights to the child; however, the second parent is attempting to petition for joint rights.  If you are a gay couple that lives in a state that does not allow joint same-sex adoption, you may wish to consider this option.

4. Step-parent Adoption:  If the child is currently living with both parents of the same sex, domestic partner or step-parent adoption can be filed.

5. Guardianship:  Parents can petition for guardianship in places where gay adoption is illegal.  Just remember that guardianship is not equivalent to adoption and does not afford the same rights.

6. Foster Care:  Foster care is not the same as adoption.  The state still has legal guardianship of the child and can remove him at any time.