Many same-sex couples are eager to adopt and provide a good home. Meet several gay couple adoption experts and learn about their positive experiences!
There are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care in the United States looking for loving homes, and thousands of same-sex couples eager to adopt and provide that home. Meet several gay couples who’ve adopted or fostered, and learn about their experiences!
Gay couples who want to be parents
The couples met in all kinds of ways – at the gym, on the street, through friends. Some of these people always knew they wanted to be parents, while others were more reluctant or unsure.
Discrimination in the foster care system
The availability of loving homes for foster children is the number one obstacle to reducing the number of children in the foster care system. Unfortunately, LGBT+ couples are discriminated against by many foster care organizations, even though studies suggest there are enough LGBT+ parent couples to care for all the children in the foster system.
Classes can prepare same-sex couples to foster children. The classes include stories about foster children and teach prospective parents about the foster care system and how to be a parent. Foster care agencies who are actively supportive of gay parents fostering can be instrumental in attracting gay parents to foster.
Adjusting to parenthood
Getting used to having children in the house can be a challenge, as for any parents, but couples persevere. Lasting bonds of love were created between the new parents and the children they adopted or fostered. Many of the couples’ family and friends were also supportive of their families, and they found new networks of parents.
Navigating the foster care system and the unexpected moments can be challenging, but LGBT+ couples have support in organizations such as the Family Equity Center, as well as from other LGBT+ couples.
A virtuous circle
Many LGBT+ people may feel a fear of not being loved, so having a child can fill a void that they may not know existed and allow them to be part of something beyond themselves by sharing love with their child. And adopting a child provides that child with a loving and stable home in which they can be safe and grow. It’s an exciting opportunity for the LGBT+ community to help the foster community and demonstrate that anyone can be a family.
How can we address the demand for foster care?
Hundreds of thousands of children in the United States need foster or adoptive families. Although there are thousands of gay couples who are eager to foster and adopt, some states and adoption agencies still do not allow them to care for children.
Questions about gay couple adoption to discuss on Ohlelo:
- What has your experience been as a LGBT+ foster or adoptive parent?
- Why do you think many LGBT+ parents choose foster parenting or adoption instead of surrogacy or a sperm donor?
- How can LGBT+ prospective parents learn about the foster care system?
- What particular benefits can LGBT+ parents give to their children?
- How can LGBT+ people and allies push for more acceptance of LGBT+ parents in the foster care system?
Check out the Real Families YouTube channel for more great tips. We also recommend you visit our Gender and Sexuality home page, for everything related to this topic.
